Press Release :: Early Learning Coalition of Putnam & St. Johns Counties

September 1, 2012

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[Press Release] Free Family Concert Featuring Jack Hartmann

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PALATKA, Fla., September 12, 2012 — The Early Learning Coalition (ELC) is sponsoring a free community concert on Saturday, September 22, 2012. The concert will feature children’s singer Jack Hartmann, with special guest Elmo from Sesame Street.

Hartmann has written and recorded more than 700 educational children’s songs as well as a children’s book titled “Over the Ocean.” More recently, he received the Distinguished Alumnus Award from his alma mater, University of Florida.

The concert, geared for families with children aged two through eight, will be held at Beasley Middle School auditorium at 2 p.m. Each family will also receive a complimentary Jack Hartmann CD. Associates of the ELC will be present at the event and encourage families to donate any new or slightly used pre-school age-appropriate books to benefit less privileged children.

Beasley Middle school is located at 1100 South 18^th Street, Palatka, Fla.

For more information, contact Joan Whitson at jwhitson@elcpsj.org or call 904-819-3544. To learn more about Jack Hartmann, please visit www.jackhartmann.com. To download concert information as a flyer, click here: Hartmann_Concert_Flyer

To download high-resolution photos of Jack Hartmann, click here or here.

CONTACT:

Joan Whitson, Early Literacy Coordinator

904-819-3544

jwhitson@elcpsj.org

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NEWS RELEASE: Clifford the Big Red Dog Brings Christmas to 600 Local Children

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December 8, 2011

Filed Under books early learning events Media Release Press Release reading Volunteer

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Clifford the Big Red Dog and volunteer Murrell Weissinger delivered books to 20 children at Little Tots Child Care Center in St. Augustine, Dec. 6, 2011.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – PUTNAM AND ST. JOHNS COUNTIES, Fla., Dec. 8, 2011 – More than 600 local 3-year-olds received an early Christmas gift from Clifford the Big Red Dog and his friends at the Early Learning Coalition of Putnam and St. Johns Counties.

The ELC has just wrapped up its first ever book bag project specifically for 3-year-olds. Twenty six childcare centers, across Putnam and St. Johns County, were visited by Clifford the Big Red Dog and volunteers from the ELC. These centers were given book bags filled with a dozen books along with informative handouts for parents on the importance of reading.

“These three-year-olds and their families will have a dozen books to begin reading during a time when families are together,” said ELC Coordinator Joan Whitson. “We hope the family will help these young children make reading an important part of their lives.”

This project was a community effort with monetary and book donations from: St. Augustine Kiwanis Club, Sunrise Rotary in St. Augustine, Ponte Vedra Rotary, Sunrise Rotary in Palatka and Hastings Rotary Club. Additionally, a fundraising event, featuring Comedian Danny Johnson, was held at Jackie Knights Comedy Club in St. Augustine that raised $2,200 toward the project.

“Reading to children at an early age is crucial to their having the skills to be ready for school,” said ELC Fundraising Committee Chair Maxine McChesney. “This is going to be a yearly program for the ELC.”

Ongoing donations to the ELC are greatly appreciated. It costs $25 for one bag of books. Visit elcpsj.org to donate or to find out more about the services of the Early Learning Coalition. Become a fan of the ELC on facebook at facbook.com/elcpsj.

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Contact: Joan Whitson, Early Literacy Coordinator, jwhitson@elcpsj.org, 904-819-3544

August 1, 2011

Filed Under activities books early learning events Media Release Press Release reading

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NEWS RELEASE: St. Augustine Barnes & Noble Hosts Bookfair to Benefit the Early Learning Coalition of Putnam and St. Johns.

Posted by elcpsjadmin

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Joan Whitson
TITLE: Early Literacy Coordinator
Early Learning Coalition of Putnam and St. Johns County
PHONE: 904-819-3544
EMAIL : jwhitson@elcpsj.org

ST. AUGUSTINE BARNES & NOBLE HOSTS BOOKFAIR TO BENEFIT THE EARLY LEARNING COALITION OF PUTNAM AND ST. JOHNS

Bring your little ones to the St. Augustine Barnes & Noble on Saturday, August 13 for a benefit bookfair including story time, games and visits from Winnie the Pooh and Clifford.

SAINT AUGUSTINE, August 1, 2011 – To raise funds for early literacy programs, the Early Learning Coalition of Putnam & St. Johns counties (ELC) is hosting a Bookfair with Barnes & Noble, Saturday, August 13, at the U.S. 1 South Barnes & Noble. Free storytelling and activities will be held for parents and young children. A percentage of sales will be given to the ELC.

Customers must use an exclusive ELC Bookfair voucher when checking out so ELC will receive proceeds. Vouchers, with ELC code 10514057, will be available at Barnes & Noble the day of the sale, online at http://elcpsj.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/ELC-Barnes-and-Noble-Voucher.pdf and at both ELC offices.

Customers can also participate by shopping online at www.bn.com/bookfairs, Aug. 13- 17, and using the ELC Bookfair voucher ID code 10514057 on the payment page.

The ELC is providing storyteller guests, “Mother Goof” and “Crazy Chef”, at 11 a.m., 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. Along with crafts and games, there will be face painting and balloon animals provided by 1st Coast Pirates, and visits from Winnie the Pooh and Clifford.

The ELC also has a wish list of books they would like donated for children in the area. The Bookfair will give guests the opportunity to buy these books and directly give them to the Coalition. Some of the literacy programs supported are the volunteer reading pal program, the take home literacy kit initiative and the upcoming Book Bag Project.

Barnes & Noble is located at 1930 U.S. 1 South, St. Augustine, FL 32086.

For more information, contact Joan Whitson, Early Literacy Coordinator for The Early Learning Coalition of Putnam and St. Johns. jwhitson@elcpsj.org, 904-819-3544. Visit www.elcpsj.org or facebook.com/elcpsj.

July 14, 2011

Filed Under books early learning Press Release Uncategorized

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NEWS RELEASE: Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library Program Closing in Putnam & St. Johns Counties

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Due to recent budget cuts, the Early Learning Coalition of Putnam and St. Johns counties (ELC) will no longer be able to provide free books for local children via the Dolly Parton Imagination Library (DPIL) program as of June 2011.

Since May 2008, the ELC has succeeded in the delivery of more than 108,000 books to children and families in the community over the course of the program. The ELC was able to meet a goal of providing books to more than 80 percent of eligible children in Putnam and St. Johns counties through DPIL. Also, in collaboration with local libraries, the ELC and has hosted numerous Toddler Fests, early literacy events with volunteer storytellers, character visits, crafts and activities, reaching hundreds of Putnam and St. Johns County children.

“It is the ELC’s hope that this program has helped foster a love of books and provided needed early literacy skills for local children and families,” said Dawn Bell, ELC’s Executive Director, “As always, the ELC trusts that families will continue to read to their children and encourage them to take advantage of the many books available at local libraries.”

Here is a list of other early literacy resources:

The Early Learning Coalition of Putnam & St. Johns Counties: http://www.elcpsj.org/

St. Johns County Public Libraries: http://www.sjcpls.org/

Putnam County Public Libraries:http://www.putnam-fl.com/

School Readiness: http://www.getreadyforschool.com/

St. Johns County Head Start Program http://www.stjohns.k12.fl.us/depts/grants/headstart/

Putnam County Head Start Program http://www.putnam.k12.ga.us/pcpk/

If you know of an organization interested in running the DPIL program, please contact Dawn Bell at 386-328-8225 x204 or via email dbell@elcpsj.org.

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March 8, 2011

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NEWS RELEASE: Upcoming Toddler Literacy Events For Putnam & St. Johns Counties

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact, Joan Whitson, Early Literacy Coordinator, 904-819-3544 or jwhitson@elcpsj.org

UPCOMING TODDLER LITERACY EVENTS FOR PUTNAM & ST. JOHNS COUNTIES

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla., March 8, 2011 – Parents and their children are given the opportunity to enjoy games, puzzles, songs and storytime at monthly early literacy events, known as Toddler Fests, hosted by the Early Learning Coalition of Putnam and St. Johns Counties (ELC).

“The Toddler Fest events have been so successful,” said Joan Whitson, ELC’s Early Literacy coordinator. “These events are designed to engage the children and acclimate them to learning in that critical period before kindergarten. We provide resources to our area families such as the Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library program. This program provides children born after May 1, 2008, one free book a month until they are five.”

Future Toddler Fests are in the works. Dates include:

* Friday, March 11: 10:15 a.m., Hastings Library, 6195 South Main Street, Hastings, Florida 32145

*Thursday, March 31: 10:15 a.m., Ponte Vedra Library, 101 Library Blvd. Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida 32082

* Saturday, May 7: 10:00 a.m., Interlachen Branch Library, 133 N County Road 315, Interlachen, FL 32148

For information, visit at www.elcpsj.org or www.DollysLibraryFL.com or e-mail Joan Whitson at jwhitson@elcpsj.org or904-819-3544.

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March 3, 2011

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NEWS RELEASE: We Give Books Tour Comes To St. Augustine

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: Webster school Head Start students and families showing proudly the books they received from the We Give Books Tour held March 1st.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dollyslibraryfl/5494709076/sizes/m/

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact: Joan Whitson, Early Literacy Coordinator- 904-819-3544, jwhitson@elcpsj.org

WE GIVE BOOKS TOUR COMES TO ST. AUGUSTINE

March 3, 2011, PUTNAM & ST. JOHNS COUNTIES, FLA. – The statewide We Give Books campaign made its second stop on its 20 city tour Tuesday, March 1st in St. Augustine at Webster school for the local Head Start parents and children. The United Way of St. Johns County and the Early Learning Coalition of Putnam and St. Johns served as the local hosts for the event. The families took part in a wonderful reading program where they were read to from the Llama Llama books series by Anna Dwedney from the We Give Books digital library. The parents were shown how they can go to the We Give Books website and read to their children from a large digital selection of books. For each book a person reads on the website www.wegivebooks.org one book is donated to a charity listed on the site of the readers choosing.

Starting March 1st the United Way of Florida is listed as one of the receiving charities. The Pearson Foundation will donate 5,000 books to the United way during this campaign. The Early Learning Coalition and the St. Johns County United Way are encouraging everyone to participate by reading books from this site and to choose the United Way as its charity as they will be the local recipients of the donated books and in turn will give them back to the local community. The Pearson Foundation will be hosting a month-long We Give Books reading celebration in schools across the state, all leading up to the celebration of Children’s Week in Tallahassee (April 3-6).

A digital collection of several hundred children’s books is also available for Florida teachers and families to access for free at www.wegivebooks.com.

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January 16, 2011

Filed Under books early learning Imagination Library Media Release Press Release reading Reading Pal Volunteer

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News Release: Successful Reading Pals Program Looking for Volunteers

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Reading pal volunteer Sara Tavender of St. Augustine enjoys reading to VPK students Kaileigh, Jonah and Camiron at Family Partners Child Care Center in St. Augustine. www.elcpsj.org

Contact: Joan Whitson – Early Literacy Coordinator
Early Learning Coalition of Putnam & St. Johns Counties
P: 904.819.3544 | Email: jwhitson@elcpsj.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Successful Reading Pals Program Looking for Volunteers

January 17, 2011, SAINT AUGUSTINE, Fla. – The Early Learning Coalition of Putnam & St. Johns Counties’ (ELC) volunteer Reading Pals Program begins in Putnam County next month. ELC and Episcopal Family Services are working together to launch the program in pre-school childcare centers in Putnam County. ELC is seeking volunteers to read to children once a week.

“We launched this successful program in St. Johns County last September, and we are so grateful for our volunteers,” said Joan Whitston, ELC’s Early Literacy Coordinator. “School staff has told me the children look forward to greeting the readers and go right to them when they arrive. Studies show that the best opportunity to influence our children’s lifetime learning is before kindergarten when their most rapid period of brain growth occurs. Reading one on one to children sets the groundwork for their future ability to read and learn.”

Through the volunteer Reading Pals Program many students are now receiving the personal attention they need. Those wanting to volunteer must attend a required training session on Wednesday, February 2nd at 1:00 p.m. at the ELC office in Palatka located at 440 N SR 19, Suite 440 across from JC Penney at the Palatka Mall. To register or for more information to become a Reading Pal, please contact Joan Whitston at 904.819.3544 or jwhitson@elcpsj.org.

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