RACING TO READ: Schools benefit from funds raised be shuttered event

Mark Rogers, The Sanford Herald, N.C.
·3 min read

Jun. 9—Two elementary schools in Sanford are benefitting from funds raised from an event that was last held in 2017.

Several years ago, the City of Sanford and Lee County formed a Youth Council to promote civic education and engagement. The council lasted from 2007 until 2018. One of its fundraisers was a 5K that was called the "Race to Read." Funds from the race were utilized for book purchases for local elementary schools. The races were held from 2012 to 2017. One of the first book donations in the earlier council years were part of a grant the Youth Council received and every first grader in Lee County Schools that year was given a book they could take home.

Over the years, the Race to Read Spring event accumulated funds for a future book purchase. Once the Youth Council was no longer active, the funds were held for a future book donation project.

Karen Kennedy, who helped coordinate the project, said that because of COVID-19 the group was unable to make the donations until this year. On Wednesday, Kennedy, along with former Youth Council members, advisors and school officials traveled to Warren Williams Elementary School and W.B. Wicker Elementary School to present books to the schools.

Former Youth Council member Allegra Hogan spoke about the group's function during the presentations.

"I was a part of the Youth Council through high school," she said. "It was a really great opportunity to be able to connect with the community and do things for others. Because of that opportunity we are able to give you guys some books. I hope you enjoy and are able to read with your teachers and families."

Lee County Superintendent Dr. Andy Bryan was also on hand for the presentations.

"We'd just like to thank you for this contribution and all that you've done for our schools," Bryan told the group. "It has made a world of difference."

At Warren Williams Elementary School, Bryan led a group of children in saying "thank you" to the group, which included Kennedy, Hogan and Lesa Pice, former co-advisor of the Youth Council.

Principal Silvia Huffer was also thankful.

"I'd just like to say thank you very much for contacting us," she said. "We truly appreciate it. "I can assure you that these books are going to be put to good use — actually, we are already reading them. It's a wonderful collection because it really works on a lot of social skills. We got a great variety."

At W.B. Wicker Elementary, Principal Aimee Petrarca also thanked the organization for the donation. Media Coordinator Abbie Brummett had requested a collection of books about the presidents. Petrarca said the qualities demonstrated by the Youth Council and through the books were things they talked about in school.

"We've talked about how important leadership, citizenship, reading and reading throughout the summer are," she said. "It's just nice to hear from lots of different sources — not just their principal and their teachers."