Tag Archive for: #fgvsmartstart

Smart Start’s Imagination Library Program Continues to Grow

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Garry Daeke, development coordinator for Franklin-Granville-Vance (FGV) Smart Start was recently on WIZS’ Town Talk program to discuss FGV’s reading program and upcoming events.

Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library

Founded by singer and entertainer Dolly Parton’s Dollywood Foundation in 1995, the Imagination Library has been a part of Vance County on a smaller scale since 2005.

With the recent additional funding provided by the NC legislature, Daeke reports that FGV’s Imagination Library program has grown from approximately 400 participants to almost 2,000 in the tri-county area since January of this year.

Children ages birth to five who are residents of Franklin, Granville or Vance County can receive one book a month in the mail free of charge. “Children can really accumulate a small library, a potential of 60 books,” said Daeke. “These are high-quality Scholastic books and the kids have ownership of them.”

The first book participants receive is “The Little Engine That Could” by Watty Piper, which, according to Daeke, plays into Parton’s theme of the fire engine. The last book in the series is “Kindergarten Here I Come” by D.J. Steinberg and teaches children ideas and concepts that will prepare them for elementary school.

According to Daeke, the goal of the program is to make books available to all children, regardless of income, and to increase their exposure to language and concepts at an early age. “Brain science says children’s brains are 85% developed by the age of five. Dolly’s program is teaching children to read and helping them understand higher concepts,” said Daeke.

The books are developmentally appropriate for children at the age of sign up and change each month as the child grows. “Children get really excited about getting something positive in the mail,” said Daeke. “That’s part of the program’s design. They are excited about books, excited about reading and even kind of demanding when their books come each month for mom or dad to sit down right then and read the book to them.”

Applications can be found at various locations around town including pediatric offices, childcare centers, the Vance County Public Health Department, Maria Parham Health, the Perry Memorial Library and the FGV Smart Start office.

Roundtable Discussion – Perry Memorial Library

The FGV Smart Start will hold a roundtable discussion at Perry Memorial Library, 205 Breckenridge St. in downtown Henderson on Thursday, June 28 from 6 – 7:30 p.m. This discussion is open to the public and will include several community organizations including Pre-K Coordinators, Cooperative Extension agents and Smart Start staff.

“The idea is to bring people together for a general discussion on how we can engage and what we can do for children in our communities,” Daeke said.

9th Annual Ducky Derby

The 9th Annual Ducky Derby will be held in downtown Henderson on Saturday, September 15, 2018. Rubber ducks will race two blocks down Garnett Street with top prizes of $1000, $500, $250 and $100 to the first through fourth place winners.

A festival will be held in the outdoor area between the Perry Memorial Library and the Henderson Police Department from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Tickets for ducks will go on sale in the next few weeks at $5 a duck, six ducks for $25 or a “flock” of 25 ducks for $100.

According to Daeke, Greystone Concrete of Henderson will once again pour the ducks out of a cement truck to ensure all enter the race in a timely fashion.

All proceeds from the Ducky Derby are used to fund Smart Start programs. FGV Smart Start is looking for sponsors for this year’s event.

Those interested in any of these events or with questions may contact the FGV Smart Start office at (252) 433-9110 or visit the NC Smart Start website at www.ncsmartstart.org.

FGV Smart Start to Enroll Kids in Dolly Parton Imagination Library

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Franklin-Granville-Vance Partnership For Children will soon begin enrolling kids in Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library program.  F-G-V Development Coordinator Garry Daeke told WIZS News that the North Carolina Partnership for Children (NCPC) is distributing $10.5 million statewide over two years.

Daeke said, “The NC Legislature during its last biennial budget allocated $3.5 million in fiscal year 17-18, and $7 million for fiscal year 18-19, for Dolly Parton Imagination Library program expansion throughout NC…Each local partnership then applies for funds to serve the number of children they believe they can enroll.

“We are in process of setting up our contract with the Dolly Parton Foundation, and will be announcing where and how to enroll very shortly. Initially, we will set up an announced enrollment day in each county, probably at local libraries, where parents can enroll children.”

You should look for enrollment forms at convenient locations like the hospital, health department and in pediatricians’ offices.

Daeke said, “Once we are up and running, there will also be on-line enrollment link for us on Dolly Parton’s web page, as well as our local webpage, www.fgvsmartstart.org.”

He said, “With the increased recognition that an important part of brain development occurs within the first three years of a child’s life, and that reading to children enhances vocabulary and other important communication skills, the American Academy of Pediatrics, which represents 62,000 pediatricians across the country, is asking its members to become powerful advocates for reading aloud, every time a baby visits the doctor.”

Daeke quoted Dr. Pamela High, who wrote the new policy.  He said, “It should be there each time we touch bases with children.”  The policy recommends that doctors tell parents they should be “reading together as a daily fun family activity” from infancy.

Carolyn Paylor, FGV Smart Start Executive Director, Passed Away

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The executive director of Franklin Granville Vance Smart Start, Inc., Carolyn Paylor, passed away on Saturday, April 16th.

Garry Daeke, development coordinator, told WIZS that his Facebook post on Franklin Granville Vance Smart Start Inc.’s page were feelings expressed directly from the staff.

He wrote, “It is with a heavy heart that we inform you that our Executive Director Carolyn Malone Paylor passed on Saturday, April 16, 2016. Carolyn was such a kindhearted and caring person. She was truly loved by her family, community, and staff and will be sorely missed. No words will ever be able to express how much we will all miss her. Having her here supporting the staff and the community meant a great deal to us and not having her around will be an arduous task to handle.

“As Carolyn would have wanted, Franklin Granville Vance Smart Start, Inc. will continue working for our families and community. Please know that we are still as dedicated as ever in meeting the needs of our community and doing what must be done to keep this agency as great as Carolyn has built it to be. In the days to come, please keep her family and staff in your thoughts and prayers. It was a privilege and honor to work with such a woman. We will all dearly miss her presence.”

Mrs. Paylor is survived by her husband, Ricky Paylor.  He indicated to WIZS News that the healing process had begun.

Heath Haithcock, a former co-worker of Carolyn’s at FGV, said on his personal Facebook page, “…I learned (Monday) that my former boss at FGV Smart Start died unexpectedly this past Saturday. Carolyn Malone Paylor was a good, Godly woman who worked hard on behalf of pre-k children everywhere. I am blessed to have known and worked with her. My thoughts and prayers go out to her family and the extended FGVSS family. I am proud to know you all.”

Daeke said he worked directly with Paylor for 18 years.  He said, “We were just so overcome with grief.  It was so sudden.  I truly lost a very good friend and an incredible supervisor and leader in the community.  She really loved Smart Start and what we were doing.  We will figure out how to continue, but it won’t be quite the same.”

Carolyn Malone Paylor’s Funeral Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of Davis-Royster Funeral Services, 926 S. Garnett Street, Henderson, NC 27536.  There is an online tribute wall.

The funeral service will be Friday, April 22, 2016 at 12:00 Noon at Concord Missionary Baptist Church, 810 Walter Grissom Road, Kittrell, NC 27544.

Flowers should be sent directly to the funeral home. Cards and other items in memoriam may be sent to the home of her parents or the office:

Mr. & Mrs. Aaron & Mary Malone, 7 Malone Way, Kittrell, NC 27544.

FGV Smart Start, 125 Charles Rollins Rd, PO Box 142, Henderson, NC 27536.

(Quotes used from Facebook were used with permission.)

Read-a-Thon at Perry Memorial Library

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One of the most important missions of the Perry Library Youth Department is to promote early literacy within the library through programming and information distribution and to partner with community organizations with similar goals.  To that end, the library is holding a Read-a-Thon in cooperation with FGV Smart Start.  The theme of the Read-a-Thon will be:  “Read for the Youngest Readers”.  All proceeds from the Read-a-Thon will go the Dolly Parton Imagination Library program which provides age appropriate books, one per month, to children ages 0-5 years.

We are looking for community organizations and local businesses that would be willing pledge donations based upon the number of hours read during our Read-a-Thon.  The Read-a-Thon will take place at Perry Memorial Library on Monday, February 15th from 12:00 pm until 8:00 pm.  Any and all members of the community ages 1 to 100 are encouraged to read for this cause.  The total number of hours read by all who come to the library will be the basis for any pledges we receive.  The names of all businesses or organizations pledging their support for the Read-a-Thon will be publicized so that the community will know who to thank.

If you would like more information about the Read-a-Thon, or would like to give a pledge of support, please contact Angie Bates at abates@perrylibrary.org or 252-438-3316 (ext 225).  If you would like more information about the Dolly Parton Imagination Library, please contact Gary Daeke, Development Coordinator of Smart Start, at gdaeke@vance.net or 252-433-9110 (ext 227).

(All of the information above was written and supplied to member businesses of the H-V Chamber of Commerce by email.)

(Perry Library Online) – (Perry Library on Facebook)

(F-G-V Smart Start Online) – (F-G-V Smart Start on Facebook)

(Dolly Parton Imagination Library Online) – (Dolly Parton Imagination Library Online on Facebook)