(May 21, 2009) -- Excitement filled the air on Monday, May 19, 2009 as Anson County Partnership for Children was awarded 4,440 hard cover books by a First Book grant worth $73,163. This grant was made possible through a generous donation from Random House Publishing.
     First Book was established in 1992 and since then has distributed more than 50 million new books to organizations across the United States. First Book collaborates with agencies that work with low income populations to ensure that millions of children are given the chance experience the joy of reading. First Book, like Anson County Partnership for Children, believes that every child, no matter their family’s income, should be able to enjoy high quality new books in their homes. The AnsonCounty Partnership for Children will distribute these books to child care providers, Pre-K, Kindergarten, first and second grade classrooms as well as to children attending Partnership events and local festivals in the near future.
     The mission of the Anson County Partnership forChildren is “helping make Anson County a better place to be a child and to raise a child.” Providing books for children is especially important in Anson County where approximately one in three adults is functionally illiterate. The Partnership’s signature literacy initiative, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, currently has over 900 registered children between the ages of birth and five years who receive a free book in the mail each month. The Partnership is grateful to First Book for their very generous donation of books for the enjoyment and learning of all children in Anson County.

(May 21, 2009) -- Anson County Partnership for Children was honored with an award for five consecutive years of 100% Board Giving at the Smart Start Annual Conference Celebration Luncheon on May 7, 2009. Stephanie Fanjul, President of the North Carolina Partnership for Children and the Reverend James Horton, Board Member of the North Carolina Partnership for Children presented the award. The North Carolina Partnership for Children is a statewide non profit that leads the 78 partnership across the state. Anson County Partnership for Children was presented the award during a lunch ceremony at the Koury Convention Center in Greensboro, North Carolina.

     (July 31, 2009) -- Tiffany Horne, a participant in the Teen Information and Parenting Services (TIPS) Program at the Anson County Partnership for Children, was awarded the Outstanding Attendance Award by the North Carolina Adolescent Parenting Program (APP). TIPS, part of the larger statewide APP network, is funded by the Teen Pregnancy Prevention Initiatives of the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. Through intensive individual case management services, home visiting, and group educational sessions, TIPS supports teen parents in Anson County in becoming self sufficient and better able to support themselves and their children. Tiffany joined TIPS in June 2006 and had the best record of attendance at training sessions of the 154 graduates of APP across the state this year. Tiffany was presented the award at an Anson County Partnership for Children staff luncheon on June 15, 2009. The TIPS program is currently accepting applications for new teen parent participants. For more information about the TIPS program, please call Bonnie Morgan at 704-694-4036.

Bonnie Morgan, left, and Kay Phillips

     (June 4, 2009) -- The Anson County Partnership for Children was honored with a STARS Award from the Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Campaign of North Carolina (APPCNC) on May 20 at the 2009 Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Campaign of North Carolina Annual Conference. The 2009 conference focused on bridging gaps in teen pregnancy prevention. Kay Phillips, Executive Director of the Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Campaign of North Carolina presented Bonnie Morgan, Anson County Partnership for Children’s Teen Information and Parenting Services (TIPS) Coordinator with the award during a lunch ceremony at the Koury Convention Center in Greensboro, North Carolina.
     The Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Campaign of North Carolina STARS Incentive Program rewards organizations based on excellence in: Advocacy Work, Community Awareness and Education, Leadership and Continuing Education.

ANSON BANK AND TRUST COMPLETES COMMITMENT -- Jim Strayhorn, President of Anson Bank & Trust, presents a check to Elaine Scarborough, Executive Director of the Anson County Partnership for Children for $3,333.33 -- completing a three-year commitment made to the Partnership for the creation and operation of the Open Doors Center for Children, which opened in February 2008. For more information on Anson Bank & Trust, visit www.AnsonBankandTrust.com

JROTC PRESENTS CHECK TO PARTNERSHIP -- Members of the Anson High School JROTC cadets present a check to Elaine Scarborough, Executive Director of the Anson County Partnership for Children, and John Witherspoon, the Partnership's Board Chairman and the Wadesboro Town Manager. The funds were collected as part of the cadets' service learning program fundraiser. The cadets chose to raise money for the Anson County Partnership for Children.