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Changing Children's Lives With the Gift of Literacy

Changing Children's Lives With the Gift of Literacy

Imagine a young child receiving a book in the mail every month until the age of five. What better way to say reading is important? Children enrolled in the Ferst Program receive a new book every month in the mail until their 5th birthday. There is absolutely no cost (ever) to registered children in participating areas! The program is made possible through the partnership with local, all-volunteer Community Action Teams (CATs).

Ferst Readers is a 501C3 organization whose funding is provided through private donations, corporate sponsorships, and grants. Contact us to help with a local program or get a new one started in your area so that we may work together to bring the gift of literacy to every child from birth-5 years old. Partnering together, we can help prepare every child for success in school and in life.

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Watch the full length video by clicking here.

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  • For Parents

    The single most important activity for building the knowledge required for eventual success in reading is reading aloud to children. Read More >>>
     

  • Program Overview

    Our Mission: Strengthening communities by providing quality books and literacy resources for children and their families to use at home during the earliest stages of development. Read More >>>

  • Get Involved

    Approximately 61 percent of low-income families do not have a single piece of reading material suitable for a child. Find out how you can help. Read More >>>
     

Get Involved with Ferst Readers

 Be a part of a story that is larger than your own!  2023 Volunteers of the Year

Click here and see some of what our local volunteer Community Action Teams were doing throughout 2023!                                                                                                           

Several Ways to Volunteer with Ferst Readers

Want to volunteer your time and skills? Our local Community Action Teams (CATs) welcome new volunteers!

Contact us toll-free at 1-706-818-6016 or email ,  or you can scan the QR Code to the right to fill out the volunteer inquiry form, and we will connect you with a local Community Action Team (CAT) in your area. 

Start the Program in Your Community

We always want to expand our reach and set up programs in new communities. There are two ways to bring books to your community:

Local Volunteer Community Action Team (CAT)

Group of volunteers or who:

  • Register children from birth to five years old.
  • Raise funds for books (because there isn't a cost to the families). For $42, a child receives an age-appropriate book each month for one year!
  • Promote early literacy and literacy events in the local community.  

Your CAT can comprise parents, teachers, retired teachers, businessmen, church members, community leaders – basically, anyone who understands the importance of early literacy and how improving early learning outcomes can impact an entire community! Every CAT looks different, so no ‘set’ format is required to get started. If you would like more details about starting a CAT in your community, download this Start a CAT flyer.

Partnerships

Business/Civic Group/School System who:

  • Wants to provide books to a specific group of children.
  • Gives funds to mail books to those children.
  • The National Office will register children and maintain the account. 

If you'd like more information about starting a program in your area, please contact us at or call toll-free at 1-888-565-0177.

 

 

 

 

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Thank you for visiting Ferst Readers!

Ensuring that children develop early literacy skills is one of the most important things we can do - as parents, as teachers - and as a society.

Won't you help us make a difference?

Adopt a reader today!   Make a Donation!