Throughout the month of October, area residents can cast votes to support ongoing child literacy efforts in Henry County.
For the second straight year the group is conducting an online Character Contest. The contest features photographs of local business, government and entertainment figures, in costume. Their mission is to raise money — and secure votes — by depicting well-known figures including artists, authors, literary sleuths and other figures in popular culture.
Ferst Readers of Henry County has maintained its efforts to secure financial support from the community, including their Halloween fundraiser, said Chairperson Doris Griffin.
“That was born out of a necessity to do something because we did not want to suspend sending books,” said Griffin.
Participants in the Character Contest include: Piedmont Henry’s Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Lily Henson, as Mulan; Shane Persaud as Sherlock Holmes; Jeff Hunter as Vincent Van Gogh, with Ashley Vicos as Van Gogh’s painting; Yasna Grainger as the mouse from the book, If You Give a Mouse a Cookie; Henry County School Board Member Sophe Pope as Mary Poppins; and Stockbridge Mayor Anthony Ford as the Black Panther.
Dr. Peto Fallas — the winner of last year’s Character Contest — portrays Elliott from the film “E.T.” as part of the fundraiser. Jef Bass of SoundAround Audio/Video, depicts what Griffin described as “a cheesy weatherman.”
Additional participants in the Character Contest are: Morrelle McCrary of RamTech as Marvel’s Luke Cage; a group from the Henry Players depicting Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory; Matt Isenberg, representing the offices of Henry County Schools, as Frankensteinatra; Anita Thomaston as Dr. Who; and Lynn Lowrey portraying the mother of Disney’s Maleficent.
Ferst Readers of Henry County is a 100-percent volunteer-driven chapter of Ferst Readers, a nonprofit organization that has chapters in several states, said Griffin.
“In the 20-some years that Ferst has existed, seven million books have been purchased and distributed,” said Griffin. “In the 15 years that we’ve had a chapter in Henry County, we’ve purchased and distributed 231,000 books.”
Griffin said the Ferst Readers’ mission is particularly important in today’s world. The COVID-19 pandemic, she said, hampered the accessibility of library programs for children.
“There are still families who have made the decision not to have their children in preschool or daycare programs where they would have exposure to books and being read to,” said Griffin. “But even before pandemic times, there’s evidence that a child who has a parent reading to them in a caring and nurturing way are hearing more words, and broadening their vocabulary. You’re set up to be a more proficient reader when that time comes.
“We have a community-action team, and our focus is to strengthen Henry County by providing books to children and families,” she continued. “The point is to have books in the home in the earliest stages of development.”
Griffin said Ferst Readers, led by Founder Robin Ferst Marhaver, is driven by sobering research regarding literacy rates among young people. Such numbers, said Griffin, are a strong indicator of children’s collective educational success as they grow older.
“When a child is not reading at grade level by third grade, statistics say they’re four times more likely to drop out of school,” said Griffin.
“So, all of the pre-literacy skills that a child gains prior to entering kindergarten are key to success, both educationally and socially in the classroom environment.”
“We raised $14,000 last October with the Ferst Character contest,” said Griffin. “It’s not as much as we would raise with a luncheon, but it’s a shot in the arm because people were interested in helping, and people were looking for positivity. It was also just fun, the creativity that people brought to the fundraiser.
“We’d love to match or exceed last year,” she added.
Ferst Readers, said Griffin, also recently held its annual Fall Celebration at Southern Belle Farm in McDonough.
“This is a ‘thank you’ and celebration event for grantors and generous donors — members of our Henry Hundred — who have faithfully supported us during pandemic times,” said Griffin.
Griffin said COVID-19 affected the Ferst Readers’ ability to raise funds in support of its mission. The annual Ferst Readers Spring Luncheon, which typically brings in 250-300 guests, was canceled in 2020 and again this year, she said.
“Because of the pandemic, there’s been a strong need to focus on the well-being of the students and teachers,” she said. “With all of the complications that COVID has brought, it was not the right time.”
Griffin said Ferst Readers has continued to collect registration information as babies were born at Piedmont Henry Hospital. The group’s goal, she said, is to put books in the hands of kids as soon as it is feasible to do so.
“We have begun to whittle away as five-year-olds age out of our program, so we’re catching up,” said Griffin.
For more information, visit www.ferstreadershenry.org or https://www.facebook.com/ferstreadersofhenrycounty/.
