An organization that helps kids recently got some big help from the Corinth Kiwanis.
The Corinth/Alcorn County Excel By 5 Coalition is a group that strives to support families of children in their most formative years — birth to five — through family service agencies, available parenting resources, workshops and community events.
Following the Kiwanis of Corinth’s successful Second Annual Father-Daughter Ball in February, the Kiwanis made a donation of $3,000 to the Corinth/Alcorn County Excel By 5 Coalition.
“The Kiwanis club deserves a big thank you for what they did for the fathers and young girls of Alcorn County with the Father-Daughter Ball,” said Susan O’Connell, the Corinth/Alcorn Excel By 5 certification manager. “Their efforts to serve the young people in our community will be continued with the Excel By 5 Coalition efforts that strive to realize the potential of Alcorn County’s youngest citizens.”
During a recent meeting the Kiwanis presented the check for $3,000 to O’Connell and Bobby Capps, the Excel By 5 family and parent focus group leader.
The money will help fund Excel By 5 newborn packets that will be distributed to newborns at Magnolia Regional Health Center. The packets will help to introduce parents to the services and resources Excel By 5 has to offer in Corinth and Alcorn County.
“Helping parents know what is available to them that will better prepare their children for school and ultimately life — and making them more easily accessible — is one of the many ways we are supporting our community,” said O’Connell.
Excel by 5 establishes a variety of standards for parent training, community participation, child care and health to help communities focus on supporting young children and their families. The certification process helps identify available resources and existing best practices to help Excel by 5 communities reach their goal — having all children ready to learn when they start school by age five.