CLICK Trivia Bee: Annual fundraiser for literacy Tuesday at Carnegie Library
By REBECCA LEFTWICH
rebecca@newnan.com
Certified Literate is Coweta's Key - CLICK is making final plans for its annual Corporate Trivia Bee, which will be held at Newnan's Carnegie Library Tuesday at 7 p.m.
Thirteen corporate-sponsored teams will compete in the event this year. Northgate, East Coweta and Newnan high school teams will partner with businesses in the competition, and teams from Evans and Smokey Road middle schools also will participate. Participants will compete in a series of rounds, and a final bonus round will determine the winner.
"Many people come to watch the event for pure entertainment and we welcome that," Johnston said. "The Newnan Carnegie Library provides a perfect venue."
Danny Beck will emcee and Jimmy Bass will provide musical entertainment for the evening, and all team members and spectators will be eligible to purchase door prize tickets. Door prizes will include a Nook donated by Barnes and Noble, gift certificates to local restaurants, a $50 gift certificate to Scott’s Bookstore and more, according to CLICK Director Lisa Johnston.
"The Trivia Bee takes a lot of work, but it is the highlight of the year for me," Johnston said of the event, which is CLICK's primary annual fundraiser.
CLICK's mission is "to enable all individuals to improve their quality of life through literacy."
"We provide one-on-one tutoring to individuals, primarily adults, who are trying to improve their reading skills," Johnston said.
In Coweta County, more than 12,000 adults aged 18 or older do not have a high school diploma, according to Johnston.
"While the educational level of adults in Coweta has increased significantly through the last 10 years, it remains important to serve this segment of the population for so many reasons," Johnston said. "Being literate is not just learning how to read, it also allows you to function in daily life at a higher level. Consider how many choices we make daily that require reading, computing and decision making. When you go to the grocery store you are reading labels and prices. When you meet with a doctor you are signing forms and reading prescription labels.
"Being literate empowers parents to be able to read to their children and help them with their homework," Johnston added. "If you don't have strong literacy skills, all these activities are challenging." Johnston said 75 percent of Georgia prison inmates and 22.4 percent of Cowetans living in poverty do not have a high school diploma.
"The impact of low literacy skills on our economy is significant," Johnston said. "Our community will be a lot stronger if fewer students drop out of high school, and more students who have dropped out get a GED. Their chances of pursuing post-secondary education or finding employment are a lot stronger, and that fosters a positive impact for families and our community."
This year's Trivia Bee team sponsors include Coweta-Fayette EMC, Newnan Utilities, Newnan Peachtree City Area Employer Committee, Rotary Club of Newnan, SouthTowne, The Newnan Times-Herald, UnitedBank, West Georgia Technical College/Adult Education, The Marie and Steve Swope Foundation, Cancer Treatment Centers of America Central Educational Center and Friends of CLICK. Honorary sponsors are Newnan Kiwanis Club and State Farm Insurance/Coweta County Agents.
For further information on Tuesday's Trivia Bee or CLICK programs, call 678-423-2000 extension 339 or e-mail Johnston at lisa.johnston@cowetaschools.net .
