Wilkes County Community Partnership announces first annual campaign to raise support from citizens
By KIP BURKE news editor

Wilkes County Community Partnership (Family Connection and Communities in Schools) announces its first-ever annual campaign.

The campaign is raising funds to help local children and youth be ready for school, stay in school, and prepare for life. Scheduled to run through December 31, 2007, the campaign has a goal of $15,000 and seeks donations primarily from individuals. The first phase of the campaign is being implemented by the 12 members of the Partnership's board of directors under the leadership of campaign co-chairs Marcie Simpson and Patricia Wilder.

WCCP Treasurer and Finance Chair Polly Fievet said, "We are proud to announce that to date, our campaign has raised over $4,000 as a result of gifts from 100 percent of our board members and staff. All we need now is the rest of our community to show their support, and we will be able to reach, maybe even exceed, our goal."

Executive Director Carolyn Reynolds noted that "over the last 10 years, much of the funding supporting the community initiatives of Family Connection/Communities In Schools has come from government sources and several significant grants. Reliance on this type of funding is tentative at best and has limited our ability to consistently work with children and families who need us most."

Wilkes County Community Partnership is a part of a national network that last year alone helped more than 1 million kids graduate from high school and enter either college or the workforce optimistic about their future. Each year, more than two million young people in 27 states and the District of Columbia have access to services through the local affiliates of Communities In Schools.

Here in Washington-Wilkes, the Wilkes County Community Partnership (Family Connection and Communities in Schools) reaches approximately 250 children and youth each year through the A-STAR neighborhood-based after-school tutorial and recreation program, JumpStart, Parents As Teachers early intervention/education program, mentoring, and workforce development programs.

Special programming for children and youth is also conducted in partnership with the Wilkes County school system, such as the "Reading Is Fundamental" books-for-children program at the primary school and the AmeriCorp Volunteer tutoring initiative at the elementary school.

Board Chair Sharon Williamson said: "Funds raised through this campaign will stay in the Washing- ton-Wilkes community and allow us to help even more children who are currently at risk receive the following: personal attention and support; mentoring; academic assistance; social and cultural enrichment; assistance in social development; career awareness and planning; and counseling."

Wilkes County Community Partnership, founded in 1996, is a nonprofit, 501{c}{3} organization and depends on private donations and volunteers to accomplish its mission. To make a donation or to volunteer, contact the Wilkes County Community Partnership office at 706-678-7570.

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