Joy S. Collins

LINKS: English | Español

Changing Children's Lives With the Gift of Literacy

Imagine a young child receiving a book in the mail every month until the age of five. What better way to say reading is important? Children enrolled in the Ferst Program receive a new book every month in the mail until their 5th birthday. There is absolutely no cost (ever) to registered children in participating areas! The program is made possible through the partnership with local, all-volunteer Community Action Teams (CATs).

Ferst Readers is a 501C3 organization whose funding is provided through private donations, corporate sponsorships, and grants. Contact us to help with a local program or get a new one started in your area so that we may work together to bring the gift of literacy to every child from birth-5 years old. Partnering together, we can help prepare every child for success in school and in life.

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For Parents

The single most important activity for building the knowledge required for eventual success in reading is reading aloud to children. Read More >>>
Program Overview

Our Mission: Strengthening communities by providing quality books and literacy resources for children and their families to use at home during the earliest stages of development. Read More >>>
Get Involved

Approximately 61 percent of low-income families do not have a single piece of reading material suitable for a child. Find out how you can help. Read More >>>

“The Ferst Readers has made a tremendous difference in our students’ reading levels. We compared the entry level reading scores for our kindergarten students that received Ferst books and those who did not and we were amazed at the difference---an average of 110 points! I have served as the co-chair for the Community Action Team to raise funds and register children for this wonderful program and it is, without a doubt, the most worthwhile time I spend working for children. The children love their books and the parents benefit so much from reading with them. Thanks so much.”
—Joy S. Collins, Superintendent Evans County Schools