DOUGHERTY COUNTY CHILDREN ILLUSTRATE THE IMPACT OF QUALITY EARLY LEARNING THROUGH CREATIVE ARTWORK

July 27, 2004

JULY 27, 2004 -- Local children join policy makers, child care advocates and nearly 30,000 Georgia children to show the importance of quality early learning and the impact of Smart Start Georgia through Link to Learning

Today children in quality child care facilities associated with Smart Start Georgia in Dougherty County will participate in Link to Learning, a statewide learning activity sponsored by Smart Start Georgia. Through Link to Learning, more than 300 Dougherty County children ages birth through five will unveil unique artwork featured on large paper doll cut-outs at an event this evening at the Darton College Student Center. Each paper doll cut-out will represent a child influenced by quality early learning, and demonstrate the impact of Smart Start Georgia on Dougherty County?s youngest residents.

"Every child in Dougherty County should have the right to receive high-quality, affordable child care. Smart Start Georgia plays a critical role in making this possible," said Soraya Kimbrel, director of Stepping Stones Child Care Resource and Referral at Darton College. "Link to Learning visually shows residents and community leaders alike just how many children are impacted by Smart Start Georgia in our community."

Dougherty County's Link to Learning event, held tonight at the Darton College Community Center at 7:00pm, will demonstrate quality early learning as children discuss their specific artwork with event attendees. In addition, Senator Michael Meyer von Bremen, Dr. Anthony Parker, president of Albany Technical College, and Dr. Joan Darden, vice president of academic affairs at Darton College, will speak on the importance of quality early care and education in Dougherty County. 

"Our hope is that Link to Learning will remind people of the importance of lifetime learning and ensuring greater achievement throughout the child?s education and beyond," said Sharen Hausmann, director of Smart Start Georgia. "By improving quality in child care centers and homes in Dougherty County, Smart Start Georgia aims to have every child in the community start kindergarten ready to succeed."

Dougherty County community leaders, policy makers and early learning advocates are invited to decorate paper doll cut-outs to show their support and enthusiasm for programs that improve the state of early learning. They also are encouraged to link their decorated cut-outs with those decorated by Dougherty County?s young children, and display them locally.

During the 2005 legislative season, decorated cut-outs from around Georgia will travel to Atlanta for a statewide celebration that will unite the Link to Learning cut-outs and celebrate quality early learning throughout the state of Georgia.

About Smart Start Georgia
Smart Start Georgia, previously known as the Georgia Early Learning Initiative (GELI), is dedicated to creating and implementing innovative programs and outreach initiatives to improve the quality of early care and education for all children ages birth through five throughout the state, promoting lifetime learning and ensuring greater achievement throughout the child's education and beyond. Smart Start Georgia is a public/private partnership among the State of Georgia, the Joseph B. Whitehead Foundation, United Ways of Georgia, the Georgia Chamber of Commerce, and more than 40 additional supporting organizations.

For additional information on Smart Start Georgia programs or how to become involved, please call 1.877.STARTGA or visit www.smartstartga.org.

Stephanie Libby
Edelman
404.262.3000
stephanie.libby@edelman.com

Amanda Bolster
Smart Start Georgia
404.527.7307
abolster@unitedwayatlanta.org