Florence's School Foundation gets $5,000 check from Duke Energy

Posted: Tuesday, January 13, 2015 9:00 pm
BY MELISSA ROLLINS Morning News This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

FLORENCE, S.C. — Early Childhood Education programs in Florence School District 1 got a boost from Duke Energy on Tuesday morning when a $5,000 check was presented to The School Foundation.

The presentation was made by Mindy Taylor, Duke government and community relations manager, at the R.N. Beck Child Development Center. Taylor said Duke recognizes the importance of supporting the communities where the company operates.

“Duke has a long history of investing in the community,” Taylor said. “We want all of our students to have bright futures and all of those bright futures start in the classroom.”

Taylor said getting a good foundation gives students a strong start.

“We want every child to reach their potential and reading is such a critical component of that success,” Taylor said. “That is why we felt it was important to partner with The School Foundation and Florence District One to help them purchase the books, to help students start learning at an early age to get that good foundation.”

After the check presentation, Taylor and Debbie Hyler, executive director of The School Foundation, also handed out books to students at the school.

Beck 4K teacher Mitzi Jones said she was thrilled that her students will have another book they can add to their personal libraries at home.

“In this classroom my main goal is to include literacy in every aspect,” Jones said. “They love to read books and look at pictures and they are very excited to have a book to take home and look at.”

Jones said having community partners in education is key to the success of schools, teachers and students.

“I think it is important that the community is showing support,” Jones said. “It really does take a village to raise a child and I am happy to have the support. I think that it is great that Duke is providing books for the students.”

Hyler said the money presented to T he School Foundation will go toward purchasing books. Students in the Start Smart, Start 2 Read programs will be benefiting from the donation. Books will also be distributed through Reach Out and Read, which provides books to pediatrician offices to give out to their young patients.