The Ferst Foundation for Childhood Literacy’s goal is to be in all communities in Georgia by 2010. We need your help to achieve this goal! If you would like to see the Ferst program offered in your community there are several steps you can take to make this a reality.
Step 1: Build a Community Action Team (CAT)
The first thing that you will need to do is generate a “buzz” in your community to build awareness of the Ferst Program and invite local leadership to participate in a local Community Action Team (CAT) effort. This local “CAT” will be a group of local individuals (like you!) with a vested interest in economic development, literacy, and a passion for children! In addition to talking it up with colleagues, friends, neighbors, and business partners, another great idea may be to write an introductory letter to the editor for your local newspaper (click here for an example from Coweta County).
The “Local Champion” (i.e., CAT) has three primary responsibilities:
- Public Relations
- Registration
- Fundraising
CAT teams are characteristically different across localities. In some communities a single group or individual takes on all the coordinating responsibilities. While in other communities, multiple groups and/or individuals divide up the responsibilities.
The enthusiasm and connections created through the local CAT membership will ultimately drive the success of the program in your community. Keep in mind that this will be a joint venture with the Ferst Foundation Staff – so you won’t be out there alone!
Generally speaking, it is the role of the Foundation is to serve as the “enabler”; in other words, it is our job to support you! Specifically, the Ferst Foundation will maintain the relationship with the Dollywood Foundation (so that we may continue to provide this program and the wonderful Imagination Library books at the amazing cost of $36/child/year), we will enter the registration forms into the database, order the books, mail the books, share best practices with all of the Georgia CATs, and continue to gather state-wide partnerships and lobby our state leaders for financial support the Foundation as well as the local efforts. As you may already know, Tennessee provides a ½ match for all local book program costs – we would be thrilled to obtain at least a ¼ match from our Georgia government so that the local program cost could be reduced to $27.00/child/year!
On a local level, the CAT is responsible for three main tasks: Public Relations, Registration, & Fundraising for your own community. The size of the CAT is up to you and will differ in composition in every county but five to ten core members would be a great beginning. Naturally, the more diverse your CAT is the more success you will have in getting the message out, registering children, and gathering support for the program.
While recruiting members for your CAT, please keep in mind that membership does not necessitate attending a monthly meeting etc. but rather encourage individuals to lend a specific talent for the overall cause – some may be eager to attend monthly planning meetings but many may prefer knowing that they will only be called upon once a quarter or once a year even – ask them to commit to whatever level of participation they are comfortable with! Once they become engaged in a specific event or task they may be more willing to dedicate even more time.
Here is a listing of some key members of your community that you will want to be sure to include:
- Local elected officials (mayor, county commissioners, city council, county manager, state legislators/representatives, etc.)
- Chamber of Commerce Board/members (prominent business owners/leaders)
- United Way
- School Board (and primary/elementary school principals, teachers, & PTO/A)
- Newspaper and other local media leaders
- Graphic Designers/ Printers
- United States Postal Service (local postmasters and/or employees)
- Local celebrities
- Civic organizations (Kiwanis, Lions, Rotary, Pilot Club, Garden Clubs, Woman’s Club, NAACP etc.)
- Board of Realtors
- Ministerial Association (Clergy Members/Congregation Leaders)
- Certified Literate Community Program (CLCP) Directors
- Hospital Board (and/or maternity and pediatric doctors/nurses)
- Doctors/Pediatricians
- Pharmacists
- Public Library Board (“Friends of the Library” & Local library mangers)
- Family Connection board members
- DFCS representatives
- County Health Department
- Local day-care providers
- Members of "Newcomers" organizations
- Local food bank/outreach program
- Interested Parents
For a more formalized overview of the Ferst Foundation and the program, please email us at info@ferstfoundation.org and we would be happy to mail a hardcopy (CD) of our PowerPoint presentation and other organizational information to you.
Once you are able to formulate your CAT you will want to develop an annual plan based on one common goal for three working committees: Public Relations, Registration, & Fundraising. (We have sample annual plans we would happy to provide you with for your review). Note that your new CAT should have a first year goal of registering at least 30% of your eligible population. (For example if your county has approximately 1,087 children under the age of 5 that would translate into approximately 327 children for the first year). You can find the number of eligible children in your county at the following website: http://www.kidscount.org/cgi-bin/aeccensus.cgi?action=profile&tree_state=13S&tree_areatype=county#jumpto. Click on your county from the list provided. To find the number of children under age 5, choose “Age and Sex” from the drop down box under View more data. For your use, we also have two worksheets that can assist you in projecting registration and fundraising targets by month for the first four years. (See example). Contact us at info@ferstfoundation.org for a copy of the spreadsheet with formulas.
Step 2: Define the Geographic Area
The Ferst Foundation for Childhood Literacy Program books can be given to children residing in a county or a predetermined zip code, school district or town within the state of Georgia. The second step of bringing this program to your community’s children it to identify the area you want to offer the Ferst program. The registration committee will register children by publicizing the program using the customized registration forms designed and provided (free) by Ferst Foundation.
Remember, the only criteria used to determine if a child is eligible for the Ferst program is a child’s age and residence. Registrations are not limited based on socioeconomics, risk factors, participation in certain programs, parental factors of any other factors other than a child’s age and residence.
Step 3: Begin Fundraising
The Ferst program only costs $36 per child to receive books for a whole year! We have many proven fundraising techniques we can share with you once you are onboard with the Ferst Foundation. In the meantime, you need to begin targeting potential corporate, public and private donors. Another potential source of start-up funds is local family and community foundations.
Step 4: Complete Paperwork
There is one piece of documentation that must be filed with Ferst Foundation before you can begin registering children with our program: a Memorandum of Agreement (MOU). Please contact us at info@ferstfoundation.org for a copy of the MOU.
We also need you to provide us specific information about your CAT that we will request of you. This information is needed in order for us to order registration forms, give you access to reporting and other online tools, etc.
We are thrilled that the Ferst Foundation has come into your radar and we would be more than happy to provide a game plan for formalizing a partnership with us so that we may work together to bring the Ferst Programming including the books from Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library to your community!