Grayson Library Receives $1.5K for Youth Programs

The Grayson Library was recently awarded $1,529 for its children and teens programs as the winner of the statewide Path2College Summer Reading Program Sweepstakes.  

The library tied with the Athens-Clarke County Library for the most entries into the sweepstakes, which was held this summer, according to a news release. 

“This is exciting for the Grayson Branch and Gwinnett County Public Library because we are proud to promote this part of the life-long educational experience to our patrons. Plus, the Grayson Branch seems to like a little friendly competition if it results in rewards for our patrons,” said Liz Forster, interim executive director for the Gwinnett County Public Library.  

For the past four years, the Georgia Public Library Service has partnered with Georgia’s Path2College 529 Plan to encourage reading over the summer months and remind families about the importance of financially preparing for future educational expenses through the sweepstakes.  

"Georgia Public Library Service is extremely pleased to help bring the Path2College 529 Savings Plan to our state's 400-plus public libraries. In these past four years, more than 20,000 public library patrons have entered the Sweepstakes, and individual winning children have received more than $21,000 towards their college savings,” said Dr. Lamar Veatch, state librarian.  “Additionally, approximately $20,000 has been donated to a number of outstanding participating libraries to help enhance their collections and programs. This is truly a winning collaboration.”

The DeKalb County Library System was also a winner with the greatest percentage of registered users entered into the sweepstakes.  

“Our libraries are helping children build a strong academic foundation and a love of learning through the summer reading program, along with the many other programs offered by Georgia’s libraries,” said Mitch Seabaugh, executive director of the Path2College 529 Plan. “By partnering with the libraries, we hope that as families are working with their children to improve their reading skills, we can get them thinking about their children’s future and to start building the financial foundation they will need to go to college.”

Seabaugh said rewarding the libraries’ hard work is a good way for the Path2College 529 Plan to give back and help the libraries continue their efforts and outreach to Georgia’s children. 

A Warner Robins kindergarten student at Shirley Hills Elementary took home the largest award from the sweepstakes. Natalie Brantley was the winner of the Path2College 529 Plan’s 2013 Summer Reading Program Sweepstakes Reading Makes Cents!, and she took home $5,529 for her college savings plan.  In addition to Brantley receiving a contribution to her Path2College 529 Plan, the Centerville Library, where she was entered into the sweepstakes, was also awarded $1,529.

To learn more about the Path2College 529 Plan or to open a Path2College 529 college savings account, call 877-424-4377 or visit www.path2college529.com.

The above is a press release from Patch2College 529.