Dear Editor,
Ferst Readers of Putnam County wants to say a great big thank you to so many for their support of our 9th annual Seuss on the Loose festival held March 4th at Putnam County Primary School. The festival was a tremendous success once again, and everyone had a great time!
Our goal for this festival is to promote literacy and a love of reading in the children of Putnam County, as well as help our organization’s efforts to raise money to get books into the hands of Putnam County children. We have many people to thank for this success.
First of all, Putnam County Charter School System, and specifically Dr. Fanicia Rogers and the staff at Putnam County Primary School. They are gracious hosts and open the school for us each year for this event.
The financial backing of our event sponsors is priceless.
Their contributions allowed us to have the capital to purchase needed supplies for the event, to help us promote the event, and to ensure that we make a profit for the purchase of books for Putnam County’s youngest readers. Thank you to our title sponsors: Fowler-Flemister, Smith Communications, and Elks Lodge #2549; gold sponsors: Dr. Megan Miller, Walter and Rebecca Rocker, Parkside Main 8, and Eatonton McDonalds; silver sponsors: Rising Star Mason Lodge #4, Tim Broyles Insurance and Financial Services, Georgia Power, Backwoods Print & Design, Farmers & Merchants Bank, Michael’s Window Treatment, and Zaxby’s of Eatonton; bronze plus sponsors: The Peoples Bank, The Insurance People, FitCo, Lake Oconee Animal Hospital, and Window Wizardz; and bronze sponsors: Dr. Rita Daniel, Central Georgia Technical College, and Cool Max Heating & Air.
We are most grateful to those organizations that provided activities at our festival. The following gave of their time and money to make our event a most enjoyable success for all in attendance: Dr.
Rita Daniel, chiropractor; PCHS Service Leadership Class; PCHS Anchor Club; Gatewood School Anchor Club; Eatonton Fire Department; Farmers & Merchants Bank; The Peoples Bank; Plaza Arts After School Arts Program; Eatonton First UMC Youth Fellowship; Eatonton Police Department; Mothers Against Crime; Central Georgia Technical College; Putnam County Head Start; Eatonton-Putnam Public Library and AZRLS; Cub Scout Pack 34; Georgia Writers Museum; Lake Oconee Lutheran Church; Eatonton-Putnam Chamber of Commerce; Eatonton Main Street; and Eatonton McDonalds, which had an activity table, as well as provided the biscuits we had for sale.
Thanks also to art contest judges Michelle Hartung and Sandra Witty, and art teachers Felicia Watkins at PCES, Margaret Fazio at PCPS, and Kiernan Pinkerton at Gatewood, without whose help the art contest couldn’t happen.
Thanks also to Eatonton Service League for sponsoring the art contest and to the library for displaying the art prior to the Seuss on the Loose event.
Others in the community donated items to be used as raffle prizes, refreshments for those participating in our Fun Run, or other items to improve the quality of the experience for our guests.
These added to our revenue for the day, as well as the excitement for our guests.
Prizes were donated by: Holly Parker, Zaxby’s of Eatonton, Lake Oconee Ace Hardware, Zimmerman Design and Vicki Zimmerman Coldwell Banker Lake Oconee, Deer Run Florist, Sisu Hair Salon, Uncle Remus Golf Course, Eatonton Huddle House, Tan & Nail Spa, Debi Morris, and Exhale Yoga Lake Oconee.
Other donations came from Ingles, Walmart, Harmony Crossing Foods and Twin Bridges Landing.
Many thanks to The Eatonton Messenger, Lake Oconee News, and The Breeze for working with us to publicize this and our other events. Your support is invaluable! Others who helped us publicize the event are Parkside Main 8, Dock Radio, Georgia Writers Museum, Eatonton-Putnam Chamber of Commerce, The Plaza Arts Center, the Eatonton-Putnam County Library, and Putnam County Primary and Elementary Schools.
We look forward to working with all of you for Seuss on the Loose next year. In the meantime, go to www.ferstreaders.org to register a child to receive books until they enter kindergarten. If you would like to make a donation to ensure local children continue to receive books, a check can be mailed to Ferst Readers of Putnam County, P.O. Box 4283, Eatonton, GA 31024, or online at ferstreaders.org by selecting Putnam County GAP. If you have questions, please feel free to email us at putnamcounty@ferstreaders.org. You also can follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/ferstreaderspc and on Instagram at instagram.com/putnamferst.
Cathy Mize, Chair; Linda Elkins, SOL Chair; Gail Farmer, Publicity Chair Ferst Readers of Putnam County