{"id":740,"date":"2012-06-23T19:21:19","date_gmt":"2012-06-23T19:21:19","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/carrollferst.org\/?page_id=740"},"modified":"2023-11-30T10:28:20","modified_gmt":"2023-11-30T10:28:20","slug":"about","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/carrollferst.org\/about\/","title":{"rendered":"ABOUT FERST"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-page\" data-elementor-id=\"740\" class=\"elementor elementor-740\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-e340de2 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"e340de2\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-3a77967\" data-id=\"3a77967\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-af9508c elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"af9508c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>Ferst Readers<\/strong> of Carroll County Inc. is a 501c(3) Non-Profit Organization whose mission is to develop literacy among young children. Early reading experiences enhance children&#8217;s chances of becoming successful students, and ultimately, educable members of the area work force. <\/p>\n\n<p><strong>Ferst Readers<\/strong> &#8220;strengthens communities by providing quality books and literacy resources for children and their families to use at home during the earliest stages of development.&#8221; Ferst Readers wants every child to have the best start in life &#8211; and nothing helps a baby&#8217;s brain develop more than exposure to rich language and loving interactions. The key is having books in the home and being read to &#8211; right from birth. Our vision is &#8220;to create better learners, brighter futures, and stronger communities by giving every child under five access to quality books in their homes.&#8221; <\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-0d45e12 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"0d45e12\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-604d578\" data-id=\"604d578\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c0e1b95 elementor-widget elementor-widget-video\" data-id=\"c0e1b95\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;video_type&quot;:&quot;vimeo&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"video.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-wrapper elementor-open-inline\">\n\t\t\t<iframe class=\"elementor-video-iframe\" allowfullscreen title=\"vimeo Video Player\" src=\"https:\/\/player.vimeo.com\/video\/184411604?color&amp;autopause=0&amp;loop=0&amp;muted=0&amp;title=1&amp;portrait=1&amp;byline=1#t=\"><\/iframe>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-7389ffc elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"7389ffc\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-221d7b7\" data-id=\"221d7b7\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6a18947 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"6a18947\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-414f1cf elementor-section-content-middle elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"414f1cf\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-66 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-cee5da4\" data-id=\"cee5da4\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-15c38ea elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"15c38ea\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2>What Do We Do?<\/h2><p><strong>Ferst Readers<\/strong> was founded in 1999 to address the growing problem of children, many from low-income communities, entering kindergarten without basic early literacy skills and school readiness, a preventable problem that has far-reaching impacts throughout students\u2019 lives. The recipe for early school success is simple: start school with strong literacy skills. <strong>Ferst Readers\u2019s<\/strong> recipe for encouraging early literacy development is even simpler. Ensure children have developmentally-appropriate books in their home and provide parents with resources that support them in their role as their child&#8217;s first teacher.<\/p><p>Children in the <strong>Ferst Readers<\/strong> literacy program receive a bookstore-quality, age-specific book and resources mailed to them at home every month until their fifth birthday. It&#8217;s this access to print that helps create a language-rich environment in the home.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-33 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-360c077\" data-id=\"360c077\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-68fdad3 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"68fdad3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"384\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/carrollferst.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/carroll-ferst-girl-books-couch.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-2121\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/carrollferst.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/carroll-ferst-girl-books-couch.jpg 384w, https:\/\/carrollferst.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/carroll-ferst-girl-books-couch-240x300.jpg 240w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 384px) 100vw, 384px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-6ffbeaf elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"6ffbeaf\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-66 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-cbe24f8\" data-id=\"cbe24f8\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-75bc07d elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"75bc07d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 style=\"margin-top: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;\">Why Is Our Program Important?<\/h2><ul style=\"list-style: unset; padding-left: 15px;\"><li>61% of low-income families do not have a single book suitable for a child.<\/li><li>The single most significant factor influencing a child\u2019s early educational success is an introduction to books and being read to at home prior to beginning school.<\/li><li>Children who have not already developed some basic literacy practices when they enter school are three to four times more likely to drop out in later years.<\/li><li>The only behavior measure that correlates significantly with reading scores is the number of books in the home.<\/li><\/ul><p><a style=\"color: #77a735;\" href=\"https:\/\/ferstreaders.org\/resources\/fifty-top-literacy-statistics\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Click here to go to our Literacy Statistics page.<\/strong><\/a><\/p><h3>OUR IMPACT:<\/h3><p>Participating communities with a robust <strong>Ferst Readers<\/strong> program have seen:<\/p><ul style=\"list-style: unset; padding-left: 15px;\"><li>Kindergarten readiness assessment scores rise significantly; in some cases as much as double.<\/li><li>Higher post-test gains for 1st grade students who were <strong>Ferst Readers<\/strong>.<\/li><li>School-wide standardized reading scores increase by several percentage points each year as <strong>Ferst Readers<\/strong> graduates progress through the school system.<\/li><li>Increased awareness of the importance of developing early literacy skills &#8211; in the home, and throughout the community.<\/li><\/ul><p>The majority of the cost of the <strong>Ferst Readers<\/strong> program, $45 per year per child, is raised in each community through donations from individuals, corporate sponsorships and foundation grants.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-33 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-538c75e\" data-id=\"538c75e\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-66895e8 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"66895e8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"360\" height=\"982\" src=\"https:\/\/carrollferst.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/ferst-readers-carroll-county-non-profit-ga.png\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-2445\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/carrollferst.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/ferst-readers-carroll-county-non-profit-ga.png 360w, https:\/\/carrollferst.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/ferst-readers-carroll-county-non-profit-ga-110x300.png 110w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 360px) 100vw, 360px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-707c71b elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"707c71b\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-fa8b5ce\" data-id=\"fa8b5ce\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3771e97 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"3771e97\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-515bb14 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"515bb14\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-227a642\" data-id=\"227a642\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3882809 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"3882809\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"283\" src=\"https:\/\/carrollferst.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/gift-of-literacy-carroll-county-ga-1024x283.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-2640\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/carrollferst.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/gift-of-literacy-carroll-county-ga-1024x283.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/carrollferst.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/gift-of-literacy-carroll-county-ga-300x83.jpg 300w, https:\/\/carrollferst.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/gift-of-literacy-carroll-county-ga-768x212.jpg 768w, https:\/\/carrollferst.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/gift-of-literacy-carroll-county-ga.jpg 1085w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">Some of the books children will receive<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-59e4005a elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"59e4005a\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-31ccab5b\" data-id=\"31ccab5b\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-693e02b5 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"693e02b5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 style=\"margin-top: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;\">How Do We Do It?<\/h2>\n<strong>Community Action Teams<\/strong>, or CATs, are made up of dedicated volunteers who oversee and administer the program in each participating county\/community. CATs may differ in composition from county to county. Carroll County works with strong group volunteers to manage the work of almost 5,000 children participating in our program. We have an Executive Board made up of 14 dedicated volunteers who each work in different parts of the program. The Executive Board is ultimately responsible for raising the funds needed for each child who participates in their program. This local involvement enables sustainability by building capacity at the community level around the important issue of literacy.\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-bd73bca elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"bd73bca\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-63ad089 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"63ad089\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/carrollferst.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/elementor\/thumbs\/ferst-readers-proud-sponsors-ojgkzhxbnvr2aqd91943w9srmbuhnzaohajr9rh5g2.jpg\" title=\"ferst-readers-proud-sponsors\" alt=\"ferst-readers-proud-sponsors\" loading=\"lazy\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">(From L to R) Martha Thurman, Karen Hartley, Tony Childers pose for a picture at Tanner Health System's first annual 'HEY BABY!' event.<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-00e6ed1 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"00e6ed1\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-43718ad\" data-id=\"43718ad\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-37424cc elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"37424cc\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 style=\"font-style: normal; color: #fff; padding-top: 15px; text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: 30px;\">:: DONOR SPOTLIGHT ::<\/span><\/h2>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-d39507a elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"d39507a\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-557a6e6\" data-id=\"557a6e6\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-eb37b0d elementor-widget__width-inherit elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"eb37b0d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p style=\"margin-top: 15px;\">Ferst Readers of Carroll County is blessed to have many financial supporters. Our<br \/>strongest supporters are the individual donors who sponsor a child for $45 each year<br \/>or make small gifts annually. In addition, we have several fundraising events each<br \/>year with business sponsors and we receive grant funds from local foundations. We<br \/>serve almost 5000 children and mail about 42,000 books here in Carroll County each<br \/>year. Each and every donor helps to make that possible!<\/p><p>These are the foundations and businesses who supported Ferst Readers of Carroll<br \/>County in 2019-2020:<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-120c40a elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"120c40a\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-a9935ff\" data-id=\"a9935ff\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3be8bf0 static-table elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"3be8bf0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<table style=\"text-align: center;\" width=\"100%; margin:auto\"><tbody><tr><td width=\"33%\"><span style=\"font-weight: bold;\"><span style=\"color: #0089cf;\"><span style=\"font-size: 24px;\">PLATINUM<br \/><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"color: #77a735; font-size: 18px;\"><b>over $5000<\/b><\/span><\/td><td width=\"33%\"><span style=\"font-weight: bold;\"><span style=\"color: #0089cf;\"><span style=\"font-size: 24px;\">GOLD<br \/><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"color: #77a735; font-size: 18px;\"><b>$1001-5000<\/b><\/span><\/td><td width=\"33%\"><span style=\"color: #0089cf;\"><span style=\"font-size: 24px;\"><b>SILVER<br \/><\/b><\/span><\/span><span style=\"color: #77a735; font-size: 18px;\"><b>$500-1000<\/b><\/span><\/td><\/tr><tr style=\"font-size: 16px;\"><td>Alice Huffard Richards Foundation<\/td><td>Carroll EMC Foundation<\/td><td>Carroll County Sheriff&#8217;s Department<\/td><\/tr><tr style=\"font-size: 16px;\"><td>Carrollton Civic Woman&#8217;s Club<\/td><td>Power of the Purse Grant<\/td><td>Carrollton Golden K<\/td><\/tr><tr style=\"font-size: 16px;\"><td>Community Foundation of West Georgia<\/td><td>SMI<\/td><td>Fairfield Kiwanis<\/td><\/tr><tr style=\"font-size: 16px;\"><td>\u00a0<\/td><td>Tanner Health System<\/td><td>J Smith Lanier &amp; Co., Inc<\/td><\/tr><tr style=\"font-size: 16px;\"><td>\u00a0<\/td><td>Walmart<\/td><td>Lovvorn Road Investments, LLC<\/td><\/tr><tr style=\"font-size: 16px;\"><td>\u00a0<\/td><td>West GA Ambulance, Inc.<\/td><td>Morgan Oil Company<\/td><\/tr><tr style=\"font-size: 16px;\"><td>\u00a0<\/td><td>\u00a0<\/td><td>Ra-Lin and Associates, Inc.<\/td><\/tr><tr style=\"font-size: 16px;\"><td>\u00a0<\/td><td>\u00a0<\/td><td>Southwire<\/td><\/tr><tr style=\"font-size: 16px;\"><td>\u00a0<\/td><td>\u00a0<\/td><td>United Community Bank<\/td><\/tr><tr style=\"font-size: 16px;\"><td>\u00a0<\/td><td>\u00a0<\/td><td>West GA Electric<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-ed26820 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"ed26820\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-66 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-41101ec\" data-id=\"41101ec\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8bee5d8 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"8bee5d8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 style=\"margin-top: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;\">Diversity, Equity, Inclusiveness Statement:<\/h2><p style=\"font-size: 18px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400;\">Ferst Readers of Carroll County, Inc., is committed to create better learners, brighter futures and stronger communities as part of our vision. We recognize and celebrate the differences in everyone, children, families, volunteers and communities, and how the uniqueness adds value and strengthens our communities.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-90b27d9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"90b27d9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 style=\"margin-top: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;\">Standards of Conduct<\/h2>\n<p style=\"font-size: 18px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400;\">Ferst Readers of Carroll County, Inc. holds high legal and ethical standards of conduct for our Board Members and volunteers. Any concerns can be reported to the organization Chair of the Board by emailing <a style=\"color: #77a735;\" href=\"mailto:CarrollCounty@FerstReaders.org\">CarrollCounty@FerstReaders.org<\/a>.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-adb7db2 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"adb7db2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 style=\"margin-top: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;\">Donor Rights to Privacy<\/h2>\n<p style=\"font-size: 18px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400;\">Ferst Readers of Carroll County, Inc., respects and appreciates every donation received and every donor. We periodically send emails to our donors and supporters to keep them up to date with our activities. Any donor who does not wish to receive those emails can \u201cunsubscribe\u201d from those emails or send us an email request at <a style=\"color: #77a735;\" href=\"mailto:CarrollCounty@FerstReaders.org\">CarrollCounty@FerstReaders.org<\/a>. We do not share our mailing lists with any other\norganization or group. Our donor privacy is maintained. Any donor who wishes to remain anonymous may do so by noting that on the donation. All donations are used for the Children\u2019s Free Book Program unless otherwise designated by the donor. Any questions or\nconcerns may be directed to the Chair of the Executive Board at <a style=\"color: #77a735;\" href=\"mailto:CarrollCounty@FerstReaders.org\">CarrollCounty@FerstReaders.org<\/a>.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-33 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-bbdd4a2\" data-id=\"bbdd4a2\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-86190fc elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"86190fc\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"360\" height=\"856\" src=\"https:\/\/carrollferst.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/ferst-readers-carroll-county-non-profit.png\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-2648\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/carrollferst.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/ferst-readers-carroll-county-non-profit.png 360w, https:\/\/carrollferst.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/ferst-readers-carroll-county-non-profit-126x300.png 126w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 360px) 100vw, 360px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-c3476b9 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"c3476b9\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-6f375cd\" data-id=\"6f375cd\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8705e45 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"8705e45\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b9a11ea elementor-align-center elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"b9a11ea\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"button.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-button-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-button elementor-button-link elementor-size-lg\" href=\"https:\/\/cfwg.fcsuite.com\/erp\/donate\/create\/fund?funit_id=1139\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\">SECURELY DONATE ONLINE HERE<\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Ferst Readers of Carroll County Inc. is a 501c(3) Non-Profit Organization whose mission is to develop literacy among young children. Early reading experiences enhance children&#8217;s chances of becoming successful students, and ultimately, educable members of the area work force. Ferst Readers &#8220;strengthens communities by providing quality books and literacy resources for children and their families &hellip;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"> <a class=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/carrollferst.org\/about\/\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">ABOUT FERST<\/span> Read More &raquo;<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2072,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","template":"","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"default","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","footnotes":""},"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v21.1 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Carroll Ferst \u2013 Providing Free Books for Children<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Ferst Readers of Carroll County is an NGO that provides developmentally-appropriate books to children from low-income families.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/carrollferst.org\/about\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Carroll Ferst \u2013 Providing Free Books for Children\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Ferst Readers of Carroll County is an NGO that provides developmentally-appropriate books to children from low-income families.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/carrollferst.org\/about\/\" 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