News Summary
Laurens County First Steps is collaborating with NASCAR Day Giveathon 2025 to improve early childhood literacy programs in Laurens County. The event, running from May 13 to May 14, will raise funds for the Dolly Parton Imagination Library, providing monthly books to children in the area. Additionally, LCFS will host a Child Abuse Prevention event on April 10, reinforcing community support for child welfare and literacy initiatives.
Laurens County – Laurens County First Steps (LCFS) is collaborating with NASCAR Day Giveathon 2025, a 27-hour online fundraising event, to enhance early childhood literacy programs in Laurens County. The Giveathon will take place from 3:00 PM EDT on May 13, 2025, until 6:00 PM EDT on May 14, 2025. LCFS is one of ten organizations in South Carolina chosen to benefit from this initiative, designed to raise critical funds for literacy resources.
Funds generated from the Giveathon will facilitate the integration of the Dolly Parton Imagination Library affiliate program within Laurens School District 55 into LCFS’s existing literacy initiatives. This integration aims to provide streamlined access to early literacy resources for all children in Laurens County. With an estimated annual cost of $46,204 to maintain this expanded program, contributions will allow for a free book to be provided every month to a projected 1,426 children from birth to age five, costing approximately $2.70 per child.
Starting May 13, donations to support this initiative can be made through the LCFS website. Each contribution will directly impact the promotion of early literacy and school readiness among children in the community. For individuals needing more information, LCFS can be contacted via email or phone.
In addition to the fundraising efforts, LCFS is hosting a Child Abuse Prevention Month event on April 10, from 4 PM to 7 PM at the Clinton Family YMCA. This event will focus on educating the community about the prevention of child abuse and will include various activities, resources, and performances from local youth teams. Recent statistics indicate a pressing need for such initiatives, as 163 children in Laurens County were involved in active Child Protective Services investigations in March 2025 alone. In the previous fiscal year, there were 1,130 children involved in open investigations, with 167 cases substantiated.
LCFS launched the Dolly Parton Imagination Library for children in Laurens School District 56 in September 2023. In just its first year, the program has successfully provided over 2,570 books to 405 enrolled children, demonstrating the organization’s commitment to supporting early literacy among young children. The cost to LCFS for each book provided through the Imagination Library is $2.20, with expectations for this fiscal year’s expenses to reach approximately $9,200.
Community support extends beyond literacy initiatives, as the Laurens County Fair Foundation has awarded $96,000 in grants to local nonprofit organizations addressing crucial needs like food insecurity and education. Organizations wishing to apply for the next grant cycle can submit applications until midnight on December 31, 2025.
Through these combined efforts, Laurens County First Steps aims to create a lasting impact on early childhood literacy and overall child welfare in the community. The upcoming NASCAR Day Giveathon stands as a significant opportunity for individuals and businesses to contribute to enhancing education and support services for the youngest residents of Laurens County.
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Additional Resources
- Laurens County First Steps Joins NASCAR Day Giveathon
- Wikipedia: Early Literacy
- LCFS Hosting Third Annual Prevention Event
- Google Search: Child Abuse Prevention
- Partnership with Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library
- Google Scholar: Early Literacy Programs
- Laurens County Fair Foundation Distributes Grants
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Child Welfare
- What Happens in Childhood Lasts a Lifetime
- Google News: Child Literacy Programs
