Media Contact:
Kim Chariker, ED Saluda County First Steps | kim@saludafirststeps.org | (864)321-1441
Saluda County First Steps Awarded Grant from Save the Children to Support Early Childhood Literacy Program in Saluda County
The $15,000 grant provided by the global humanitarian organization will help fund a StoryWalk® and Born Learning Trails (English and Spanish) at the Saluda Town Park
Saluda, SC (December 8th, 2022) – Saluda County First Steps was awarded a $15,000 grant from global humanitarian organization Save the Children to support the Early Childhood Literacy Program, which will provide a StoryWalk® and Born Learning Trails (English and Spanish) at the Saluda Town Park. The ribbon-cutting ceremony is scheduled for Saturday, April 1st, 2023, at 10 am at the Spring Fest Event at the Saluda Town Park.
Saluda County First Steps was selected by Save the Children to support innovative approaches to early childhood learning. The grant will fund community-wide initiatives that support kindergarten readiness, early literacy, and early numeracy.
“Saluda County First Steps is honored to partner with Save the Children to provide our community with a StoryWalk® and Born Learning Trails (English and Spanish) at our local town park,” said Kim Chariker, Executive Director of Saluda County First Steps. “The need for innovative approaches to encourage literacy and language for families of young children to help improve our kindergarten readiness scores and encourage families to get out and enjoy family time while sharing a book and physical activities with their young child(ren) is invaluable.” “These two projects will allow Saluda County First Steps to offer our families of young children high-quality early learning initiatives in our community.”
The StoryWalk® will provide families with the opportunity to read their child a story as they walk around the Saluda Town Park track together. Each post will have 2 pages of the story featured. As they walk the track, they will have read the entire story to their child. The Born Learning Trails provide families with an activity at each station to do with their child to interact together as a family and enjoy the park together.
“Save the Children is thrilled to work with these local champions for children,” said Tamsyn Oakes, Senior Advisor for Community-based Services at Save the Children. “We are looking forward to supporting all of these innovative projects designed to help young learners grow and develop across rural America.”
Save the Children believes child deserves a future. Since our founding more than 100 years ago, we’ve changed the lives of more than 1 billion children. In the United States and around the world, we give children a healthy start in life, the opportunity to learn and protection from harm. We do whatever it takes for children – every day and in times of crisis – transforming their lives and the future we share. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube.
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