Tag Archive for: #fgvsmartstart

TownTalk: Garry Daeke Discusses ‘Week Of The Young Child’ Activities

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That group of shiny pinwheels planted out front of the Franklin Granville Vance Smart Start office is a visual reminder to us all of the joys that children bring into our lives.

The pinwheel gardens that may be seen in other places across the tri-county area are symbols of joy, happiness and fun, said Garry Daeke, development coordinator at FGV Smart Start. “That’s what we want our children to remind us” of, he said on Tuesday’s TownTalk.

As part of The Week of the Young Child celebrations across the area, the FGV Partnership is hosting several events to promote awareness as it shows support for early learning, the healthy development of young children, as well as the adults – teachers, parents and caregivers – throughout the community.

Unfortunately, the main public event, Family Night, scheduled for Thursday at Vance-Granville Community College, will NOT be held as planned because of the risk of severe weather, Daeke said. It will be rescheduled.

He spoke by phone with WIZS from Sugar N Spice day care during Time Out Tuesday, when a group of select childcare advocates were “sent” to Time Out at as part of a fundraising effort. They could leave their time out spots when they’d reached their fundraising goal, Daeke explained.

It’s just one way the community bands together to support and promote child-centered programs in the three-county area, he said.

“It’s been a great morning so far for me,” Daeke said. Wednesday is Health and Nutrition Day, and he said he’d be at New Beginnings Child Care to enjoy some outdoor activities and healthy snacks with youngsters there.

Then, the 18-member staff will fan out across the three counties on Friday to visit different day cares and preschools for “Read to Young Children” Day. Daeke said staff will visit different classrooms to read with children – they’ll even bring along some books to share, he said.

 

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TownTalk: The 2023 Ducky Derby is Here!

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There’s a deluge expected in downtown Henderson next month, but you won’t find details on any weather app or forecast – not even the farmer’s almanac. Flooding will be minimal and isolated to Garnett Street, officials say – just long enough for that last little rubber ducky to cross the finish line.

No need to gather your rain gear just yet – it’s just the 14th annual Ducky Derby!

This year’s event takes place Saturday, Sept. 16 in downtown Henderson, with the Henderson Fire Department supplying the water and Greystone Concrete Products pouring the ducks from one of its cement mixers.

The Franklin Granville Vance Smart Start hosts the annual fundraiser and Garry Daeke was on Tuesday’s TownTalk to share details and how to purchase tickets.

“We hope to have a good day and have fun – it’s always a blast,” Daeke said.

Ducks are $5 each, or you can purchase more than one and save a little cash – a Quack Pack is 5 ducks for $20 and a Flock gets you 25 ducks for $100. Tickets are available the day of the derby, too.

“I’m continually excited about how much fun people have” Daeke said. The fun includes children’s games, food trucks and music. This year, there’s a “blender bike” that kids can use to pedal their way to create their own smoothies.

And there are prizes for the top three finishers, as well as for that last little straggler to cross the finish line.

First prize is $1,000, second prize is Chick-fil-A for a year and third prize is a $250 gas card from Sheetz. The last duck wins $100.

Tickets are available from FGV staff or board members and by calling the FGV office at 252.433.9110. You can reach Daeke at the office or at 252.432.3145.

The event begins at 11 a.m. and continues through 2 p.m.

The race begins at Garnett and Breckenridge streets and the finish line is at Orange Street.

Sponsorships are available; contact Daeke to become a sponsor.

“We get new folks every year that want to be a part of what’s going on downtown,” he said.

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Smart Start

FGV Partnership For Children Announces ‘Week Of The Young Child’ Activities April 1-7

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Since 1971, early childhood education proponents have celebrated The Week of the Young Child. The FGV Partnership for Children invites the community to help mark the special week – April 1-7 – by participating in numerous activities, all with children in mind.

FGV Partnership for Children’s Development Coordinator Garry Daeke will be a guest on Monday’s TownTalk, and he shared the schedule of events that will take place, including one that will be held Saturday, April 1.

A virtual kindergarten transition forum will be offered from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday. Tanya Daniels, M.Ed. will present “Belonging, Believing and Becoming of Tomorrow’s Children.” Register at www.fgvsmartstart.org.

Additional activities include:

  • Monday, April 3—Pinwheels, kick off April Prevent Child Abuse NC.  Childcare programs (New Beginnings and Teach-A-Tot) will visit FGV Smart Start and ‘plant’ a pinwheel garden, along with indoor activities and snacks.  Time: 10 a.m.
  • Tuesday, April 4—Health and Fitness Day will organize healthy snacks and outdoor play for children at What A Blessing Child Care and Franklinton United Methodist Church Day Care in Franklin County. Time: 10 a.m.
  • Wednesday, April 5—Literacy Day will set up Imagination Library enrollments at Wal Mart in each county and will be enrolling children from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m.
  • Thursday, April 6–Safe Kids Day (Vance County) Safe Kids will set up at Dabney Drive Fire station from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. and provide child safety seat inspections and installation.

The purpose of The Week of the Young Child is to focus public attention on the needs of young children and their families and to recognize the early childhood programs and services that meet those needs.

Little Ducks Raise Big Bucks

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It’s always fun when the weather is right, people are excited, ultimately kids benefit and somebody wins something.

That’s what happened this past Saturday at the Duck Derby in downtown Henderson, and Garry Daeke, development coordinator with Franklin Granville Vance Smart Start sounded nothing but pleased when WIZS caught up with him late Monday afternoon by phone.

“It went great. We had a beautiful stay. We had a good steady crowd all day. When we did the race itself, we lined the sidewalks almost all the way down. I guess we got a 150 people out there I think. It was very nice,” he said.

And while it was about fun, games, education and getting out in one’s own downtown, the bigger purpose that’s often right there too is money.

Daeke said, “We had sold 1,779 tickets pre. And we sold about 200, I think (at the event). So right at 2,000 duck tickets sold. We’ll get the final numbers after we back out the expenses. With the ticket sales and sponsors, I think we’ll do about $10,000 net.”

He said the winners came from a smattering of locations across the three county area including the $1,000 winner having purchased the ticket at the event. Winners not present were notified by phone Monday.

Masonic Home for Children

Visit Sept. 15 Open House At MHCO To Learn More About Community Support Center

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Plans are underway to create a community support center on the campus of the Masonic Home for Children in Oxford to offer resources, training and other services to families in the community.

Through a partnership with the Granville County United Way, FGV Smart Start, Granville Education Foundation and Baptist Children’s Home the Masonic Home for Children invites interested community agencies  to an open house on Thursday, Sept. 15. Drop by between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. to learn more about how to identify and address family needs, provide services, network and make referrals for services on behalf of families in need.

Some of the proposed services include:

  • Parenting Education
  • Nutrition Classes
  • Family Counseling
  • Foster Care Training
  • Adolescent Group Counseling
  • Financial Management Education
  • Recreation
  • Networking to a variety of services

Visitors can come to the Parham Cottage at the children’s home, whose main campus is located at 600 College St., Oxford.

TownTalk: Duck Derby

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This year’s Duck Derby to benefit Franklin/Granville/Vance Smart Start is shaping up to be another successful event and Gary Daeke, one of the fundraiser organizers, said he’s pleased to note that there will be a full-on street festival for families to enjoy.

The fun begins at 11 a.m. in downtown Henderson on Saturday, Sept. 17. There will be a couple of food trucks, lots of children’s activities and then the race will be at 2 p.m., Daeke told John C. Rose Thursday on Town Talk.

“The ducks have been selling really well,” Daeke noted. They usually sell about 2,500 of the rubber ducks, that will drift down a short-lived “river” created along Garnett Street – compliments of the Henderson Fire Department’s fire hoses. Daeke said Greystone Concrete Products graciously provides the equipment that mixes up the ducks and then dumps them across the starting line to begin the race.

There will be a bounce house and a slide, and Daeke said the kids always enjoy donning fire helmets and having a little fun with the fire hose.

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The prize for having the winning duck is $1,000. Chick Fil-A for a year is the prize for second place, and the third-place winner will receive a Sheetz gas card. The duck that comes in last gets a prize, too – $100. Tickets are available now from any FGV staffer or board member, but they also will be available until about 1:30 p.m. on the day of the derby.

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Although FGV had the Duck Derby last year, COVID-19 restrictions meant they couldn’t have the full-blown festival. This year, though, brings a return to previous years festivities. Daeke said there should be an area filled with non-profit organizations and agencies available to provide information about resources in the community.

When children and families visit these tables and booths, they’ll get signatures on a scavenger hunt card that will be redeemed for perhaps an ice cream or a sno-cone, he said.

Visit www.fgvsmartstart.org to purchase a duck and to learn more about services of FGV Smart Start. Or call the office at 252.433.9110 to find out more.

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TownTalk: FGV Ducky Derby Takes To Garnett Street Sept. 18

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If you’ve ever wondered what it looks like to have 2,000 rubber duckies float down Garnett Street, then come out Saturday, Sept. 18 for the 12th annual Ducky Derby to benefit Franklin-Granville-Vance Smart Start.

Garry Daeke, FGV development coordinator, said he is looking forward to another successful fundraiser, despite some necessary adjustments because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sponsors have really stepped up to support the event, Daeke said. “Sponsorships have been off the charts,” he told John C. Rose on Wednesday’s Town Talk. With the promise of good weather and generous sponsors, Daeke said the event is shaping up to be the best yet.

The public is invited to come out for the noon event, he said. This year, however, all the ducks will have the name of a child care employee, whose names were submitted by more than 100 child care providers in the three-county service area.

The first prize winner gets $1,000, second prize is $500 and the last-place finisher gets $100.

Child care workers and providers have suffered financial hardships during the pandemic, and Daeke said FGV is pleased to honor these essential workers at the Derby.

“They’ve had a tough, tough year,” Daeke said. This is one way to “bring a little light into how much we depend on them to take care of our children and so parents can go back to work.”

All proceeds go back into program services.

The race starts at Garnett Street and Breckenridge Street and ends a couple of blocks away at the corner of Garnett and Orange. Spectators should expect to wear a mask and maintain social distancing safety protocols.

The FGV Smart Start provides services for families who may be looking for child care, as well as a wide range of services for child care providers.

“If we can get our children prepared and ready for school…that’s a key element in their success after school,” Daeke said.

The FGV helps to fund literacy programs that increase young children’s accessibility to books and reading. Having a caring support system around you, no matter what your resources are, helps children achieve their potential, he said.

Visit www.fgvsmartstart.org. to learn more.

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Smart Start

FGV Smart Start Job Fair June 26 For Jobs In Child Care

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The Franklin-Granville-Vance Smart Start program is hosting a job fair at its offices next weekend.

The job fair is scheduled for Saturday, June 26, from 9 a.m. to noon at the FGV location, 125 Charles Rollins Road in Henderson. Anyone interested in learning more about employment in child care can participate in person or virtually, according to information from FGV outreach coordinator Garry Daeke.

Child care providers will be on site to discuss job opportunities, and it’s possible to get hired on the spot.

Additional resources available at the job fair include:

  • VGCC enrollment and financial aid information
  • Free CPR, first aid and SIDS training for successful applicants

To join virtually, visit https://US02WEB.ZOOM.US/J/88080244935.

The meeting ID is 800 8024 4935

Contact FGV at 252.433.9110 to learn more.

Ducky Derby

Rubber ‘Ducky Derby’ Race to Be Held in Downtown Henderson This Saturday!

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THIS STORY IS PRESENTED IN PART BY DRAKE DENTISTRY

The 11th Annual FGV Ducky Derby Race will be held this Saturday, September 19, 2020, at 11 a.m. on Garnett Street in downtown Henderson.

Several changes from previous events will be in place due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The public is still welcome to join the fun in-person. Social distancing and masks will be required for all participants.

Proceeds from the annual event provide services for local families with children age five and younger. (Click here for article and video from last year’s event.)

This year, with the uncertainty surrounding event-planning, no individual tickets for rubber ducks were sold. Instead, Smart Start secured sponsors to support this event.

Approximately 2,000 rubber ducks will “race,” with each representing a child enrolled in the Dolly Parton Imagination Library program. Founded by singer and entertainer Dolly Parton’s Dollywood Foundation, the Imagination Library partners with Smart Start programs to offer youth one free book a month – via mail – from birth through age five.

Applications for the Imagination Library can be found at local pediatric offices, childcare centers, the Granville Vance Public Health Department, Maria Parham Health, libraries and the FGV Smart Start office.

The “lucky duck” [child] who wins the Ducky Derby will receive the grand prize of free Chick-fil-A for a year.

“We wanted to have something for the public; so many things aren’t going to happen this fall. We decided we wanted something that we can still have and – possibly – people could come out and see,” stated Garry Daeke, outreach coordinator for FGV.

Those not able to attend in-person can view the event live on the FGV Smart Start Facebook page.

To enroll your child in the Imagination Library or with questions, please call FGV Smart Start at (252) 433-9110.

Ducky Derby 2020

Town Talk 08/17/20: Rubber Ducks to Float Down Garnett St. in 11th Annual Ducky Derby

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100.1 FM ~ 1450 AM ~ WIZS, Your Community Voice ~ Click to LISTEN LOCAL

Garry Daeke, outreach coordinator for Franklin-Granville-Vance Smart Start, Inc., appeared on WIZS Town Talk Monday at 11 a.m.

Daeke was pleased to announce that the 11th Annual FGV Ducky Derby Race will be held on Saturday, September 19, 2020, in downtown Henderson, albeit with several changes in place due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

At 11 a.m. that morning, Garnett Street will be filled with a river of rubber ducks as FGV Smart Start holds its largest fundraiser of the year. With $10,000 raised at last year’s race, Daeke said proceeds from the annual event provide services for local families with children age five and younger. (Click here for article and video from last year’s event.)

All sponsors will be recognized on Ducky Derby posters, radio advertisements, newspaper articles and the FGV Smart Start website and Facebook page.

This year, with the uncertainty surrounding event-planning, Daeke explained that no individual tickets for rubber ducks will be sold. Instead, Smart Start will be securing sponsors to support this event.

Sponsorship levels are:
Super Duck – $500
Feathered Friend – $250
Quacker Backer – $100

Approximately 2,000 ducks will “race” this year, and each will represent a child enrolled in the Dolly Parton Imagination Library program. Founded by singer and entertainer Dolly Parton’s Dollywood Foundation, the Imagination Library partners with Smart Start programs to offer youth one free book a month – via mail – from birth through age five.

With 3,800 children currently registered for the Imagination Library through FGV Smart Start, Daeke said 2,000 names will be randomly selected for the available ducks. Children who are enrolled in the program in the next few weeks will also have a chance to be entered into the race.

Applications for the Imagination Library can be found at local pediatric offices, childcare centers, the Granville Vance Public Health Department, Maria Parham Health, libraries and the FGV Smart Start office.

The “lucky duck” [child] who wins the Ducky Derby will receive the grand prize of free Chick-fil-A for a year.

While individual ducks will not be available for purchase, Daeke said the public is still welcome to join the fun in-person. Social distancing and masks will be required for all participants.

“We wanted to have something for the public; so many things aren’t going to happen this fall. We decided we wanted something that we can still have and – possibly – people could come out and see,” stated Daeke.

For those not able to attend in-person, Daeke said the event will be featured live on the FGV Smart Start Facebook page. A drone fly-over is also being planned in conjunction with the City of Henderson to provide a bird’s-eye view of the activities.

While a deviation from past years, Daeke said the 2020 Ducky Derby “will be a little different but still a lot of fun.”

If interested in becoming a sponsor, to enroll your child in the Imagination Library or with questions, please call FGV Smart Start at (252) 433-9110.

To hear the interview in its entirety, go to WIZS.com and click on Town Talk.