Congressman Buddy Carter and State Representative Bill Hitchens will visit the West Chatham YMCA Child Learning Center on October 6th  and 7th to show support for quality early learning as part of Georgia Pre-K Week 2016. The event, which runs October 3-7, is organized each year by Voices for Georgia’s Children, a policy and advocacy non-profit organization, and supported by more than 15 child-focused partners.
 
Launched six years ago, Pre-K Week draws attention to Georgia’s Pre-K, a Lottery funded hallmark program that was pioneered in Georgia 24 years ago. Congressman Carter and State Representative Hitchens will join hundreds of state, business and community leaders who will visit Pre-K centers to witness quality early learning in action and read a favorite children’s book to the young learners throughout the week.
 
“We are excited to have both Congressman Carter and State Representative Hitchens visit our center to show our children their community cares about their education,” said Courtney Robinson, director of West Chatham YMCA’s Child Learning Center. “The enthusiasm and support we receive from leaders across the state show they understand the value of quality early learning to ensure school readiness, higher graduation rates and lifelong empowerment.”
 
Congressman Buddy Carter will be at West Chatham YMCA Child Learning Center from approximately 11 a.m. until about noon on October 6th and State Representative Bill Hitchens will be at the Child Learning Center from 10 a.m. to approximately 11 a.m. on October 7th  at 165 Issac G. LaRoche Dr, Pooler, GA 31322. While there, they will each participate in a reading activity with the children, take a tour of the facility, talk with the staff, and get an up-close look at the many ways that the center is supporting early learning.
 
For the third consecutive year, Georgia Power and Synovus return as corporate sponsors of Pre-K Week. In addition, the Georgia School Board Association returns for a second year recognizing the important role school districts play in supporting early learning. Additional key supporters include various state commissioners and state elected officials, as well as members of Georgia’s Congressional delegation, Governor Nathan Deal and First Lady Sandra Deal.
 
“The continued support of such influential community leaders is a powerful statement about the value of children learning in the early years,” said Emily Pelton, Executive Director of Voices for Georgia’s Children. “Investment in early childhood education creates the foundation necessary for a child to succeed in nearly every phase of life, and ultimately will help give Georgia’s youngest learners the foundation they need to grow into productive and healthy adults.”