Congratulations to Smart Start of Davie County for winning a $10,000 award in Triad Kids Dental’s Caring4Community Awards!
A check presentation was held on Thursday, December 1, 2022, during Smart Start’s open house celebrating its 25th anniversary. Smart Start of Davie County serves children ages birth to five with a mission of ensuring that young children enter kindergarten healthy and ready to succeed in school and beyond. Since opening its doors on November 24, 1997, Smart Start has reached over 1,000 children a year through its various programs.
During the presentation, Jenna Stottler, Triad Kids Dental community relations specialist, shared with guests that Smart Start was the second organization to receive this bi-annual reward and that this initiative was something that the dental office looked forward to doing in years to come.
Smart Start of Davie County is grateful for everyone who nominated them and then voted for them during the contest and is excited to use the funds for program expansion.
“Smart Start of Davie is so humbled and excited to be the recipient of the Caring for Communities award!” said Gena Taylor, executive director. “Our organization works diligently to write grants and fundraise to continue to offer and expand our programs. Even during the pandemic, our organization continued to serve families, caregivers, and children. Our programs have not only continued, but they have also grown. One example is the new Kaleidoscope play group which started in July 2022. The attendance is triple what we budgeted and planned for. We are so excited to see the growth in this program and the new funding will not only help us sustain our current playgroup but will allow us to expand to offer additional playgroup sessions in 2023.”
During the event, a donor wall was unveiled as a token of Smart Start of Davie County’s appreciation for their supporters, especially following the Covid-19 pandemic. Guests enjoyed reminiscing on days of Smart Start of Davie County gone by as they enjoyed a picture slideshow and looked forward to exciting things to come.
Earlier in the morning, Smart Start of Davie County hosted their weekly playgroup, Kaleidoscope “Play With a Purpose”. Children and their caregivers donned birthday hats, and decorated coloring pages for the open house and some families stayed to celebrate. Guests and donors had the unique opportunity to mingle with some of the families they support through their generosity that makes programs like this possible.
For the past 25 years, the organization has worked to:
- Identify the needs of young children and families; provide them with inspiring services and activities
- Facilitate resources for families to prepare children for kindergarten
- Collaborate with the community to identify the resources needed in Davie County
- To increase access to high-quality childcare and provide quality instruction and support to area childcare facilities
- Expand early literacy opportunities
Programs funded by Smart Start of Davie County include:
- Child Care Subsidy – A child care scholarship program for families
- Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library – An early literacy program for children
- Parents as Teachers – An in-home parent/child education program
- Nurturing Parenting Program – A ten-week parenting class
- Strengthening the Foundations of Quality – A technical assistance program for child care providers
- Early Childhood Resource Center – A free educational kit and resource lending library for parents and child care providers
- Reach Out and Read – An early literacy program championed by local pediatricians
- WAGE$ – An educational incentive program for child care providers
- Kaleidoscope “Play With a Purpose”
To learn more about Smart Start of Davie County, visit DavieSmartStart.org.
