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eNewsletter
February 2008
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Children
First improves the lives of children,
youth, and their families through
advocacy, community collaboration, and
programs. |
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Dear Friend,
"The more that you read, the more
things you will know. The more that
you learn, the more places you'll
go." -- Dr. Seuss
Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss! (March
2nd)
Jennifer Hampton
Development and Marketing
Coordinator
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US
Cellular Donates $3,500 to
Children First
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US
Cellular presented a check for
$3,500 to Children First of
Buncombe County on Tuesday,
January 29, 2008, at the Pisgah
View Apartments Community
Center, one of three Project
MARCH Homework Club sites. The
donation will assist with the
Children First Project MARCH
(Make a Right CHoice) homework
club. "US Cellular is proud to
provide exciting new learning
opportunities and expose them to
careers such as engineering,"
said Jack Brundige, director of
sales for US Cellular in western
North Carolina.
Pictured are
Cellby, Jack Brundige with
US Cellular, Mayor Bellamy
and Allison Jordan,
executive director of
Children First, with
students from the Project
MARCH Homework Club Pisgah
View site.
"This generous gift and
partnership with US
Cellular will allow
Children First to
continue playing a vital
role in helping young
people in our
community,"
said
Allison Jordan,
executive director of
Children First. "We
are grateful to U.S.
Cellular for the
generous donation and
the volunteer commitment
of associates to work
with our children."
Project MARCH connects
schools, parents, volunteers
and teachers to serve
elementary school-aged
children living in Pisgah
View, Deaverview and
Woodridge apartments with
homework assistance, healthy
snacks and summer enrichment
programs. U.S. Cellular
associates have committed
volunteers for the homework
clubs and began today by
providing students with a
behind the scenes look at
how a wireless system
works. The students had the
opportunity to tour the COLT
truck which is a Cell
On Light Truck, a portable,
self-contained cell site
that is housed in a
semi-tractor with a
retractable pole.
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Children First Supports Water
Fluoridation |
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Children First
supported Dr. Bill Chambers and
other medical community members on
the City of Asheville's existing
practice of water fluoridation as a
proven method of safe, effective
prevention of tooth decay at the
City Council meeting on Tuesday,
February 12th. Council approved to
keep fluoride in the City's water
supply by a 5-1 vote.
Allison Jordan,
executive director of Children First
stated, "For many low-income
families, affordable dental care
doesn't exist. Few dentists accept
Medicaid and the full cost of dental
care is out of reach. Children
First supports policies and
initiatives that extend dental care
and dental education to all
children." According to the 2007 NC
Child Health Report Card, 19% of of
the state's kindergartners have
untreated tooth decay.
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March 3rd is Read Across America
Day |
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"Grab your hat and read with a cat!"
on one of the nation's largest
reading days - Monday, March 3rd is
Read Across America Day. According
to the National Education
Association (NEA), "children who are
read to, and who read for pleasure,
are significantly more successful in
school than children who do not."
Help us give a child in Buncombe
County a head start on success --
teach them that reading is FUN!
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Champions for Children |
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February Champion for Children---
Becca Dion
Becca has dedicated her
life's work as a champion
for children. Becca has been
the Director of Valley Child
Development Center, a
Buncombe Co. Child Care
Preschool for the last 12
years and a school teacher
for many years before that.
Every day, Becca's
leadership provides a
nurturing, caring
environment for young
children, their families and
her staff. No matter how
busy she is, she is always
available with a positive
attitude and a great sense
of humor to listen to and
support those around her.
She is truly a champion for
children and their families.
To see
past Champions for Children
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Children First of Buncombe County is
Communities in Schools Asheville.
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Advocacy Corner:
"Steering Youth Away from Crime"
Community Forum
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"Steering Youth Away from Crime," a
community forum, will be held March
13, 11:30-1:30, at the UNC-Asheville
Reuter Center, Chestnut Room.
The forum is co-sponsored by Action
for Children North Carolina and
Children First of Buncombe County
and hosted by the UNC-Asheville
Department of Extension & Distance
Education. The forum will discuss:
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best practices for steering
youth away from crime
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sending youth to the adult
criminal system
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how to engage youth in the
public policy debate
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the importance of funding for
local juvenile justice service
programs (specifically Juvenile
Crime Prevention Councils)
Panelists for the forum:
State Rep. Philip Haire
(Haywood, Jackson, and Swain
Counties); Anthony Jones,
chief court counselor of
Buncombe County; and Sorien
Schmidt, senior vice
president of Action for Children.
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Fall Donor Campaign |
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Did you know that 1 in 5 of our
community's children live in
poverty? This means that 20% of
children may not have access to warm
clothing, adequate health care or
nutritious meals.
Help us raise $15,000 to support
kids through the Project MARCH
Homework Clubs, to educate community
members to inspire action with
advocacy work and to assist
children, youth and their families
through the Family Resource Center.
Together, we
can put children first!!
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Click here to make a donation
securely online
PayPal account not necessary
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Mind the Gap Tour
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If you are interested in learning more
about Children First please attend one
of our Mind the Gap Tours. The
next tour will be held on Tuesday,
February 26, 2008, from 3:30 to 4:45
p.m. RSVP to Jennifer Hampton
at 828-259-9717 or
jenniferh@childrenfirstbc.org.
Click below to learn more about Mind the
Gap.
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Partner Agency |
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