Smart Start of Forsyth County receives grant to conduct vision screening
Winston-Salem, NC – Smart Start of Forsyth County, Inc. (SSFC) has received a grant from The Winston-Salem Foundation to provide 529 children in the Forsyth County NC Pre-K program with photo-refractive vision screening.
Vision screening is critical to the early detection and correction of visual impairment in young children. A small problem with vision can have major implications for the development of reading as well as gross and fine motor skill development.
“We are so grateful to The Winston-Salem Foundation,” according to Donna Faulconer, director of the county’s NC Pre-K program, “as this grant will allow us to help children and their families take the necessary corrective measures to address any visual challenges. These funds provide vital screening services and early intervention opportunities to ensure that our children get off to the right start for a life-time of learning.”
Under the direction of SSFC, Forsyth County’s NC Pre-K program provides high quality educational experiences to enhance school readiness for eligible four-year olds. The program focuses on different approaches to learning, emotional and social development, health and physical development, language and communication skills, and cognitive development.
The Winston-Salem Foundation provides millions of dollars to charitable organizations every year, to promote a better and stronger community. The Foundation and SSFC have worked together in the past and look forward to a bright future of building a strong community. This grant is possible through resources from the Claire Lockhart Follin-Mace Fund.
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The Winston-Salem Foundation is a community foundation that supports charitable programs in the greater Forsyth County area. Founded in 1919 by Colonel Francis Fries with a $1000 gift, it now administers over 1300 funds and had total custodial assets of over $276 million at the end of 2011. In 2011, the Foundation granted more than $20.8 million to charitable causes, over $2.1 million of which was in Community Grants. For more information, visit www.wsfoundation.org
The earliest years of childhood are critical. Experiences during this time literally shape the structure of the brain. Because today’s children are tomorrow’s leaders, parents and workers, everyone has a stake in making sure all children have the experiences they need to thrive. Smart Start of Forsyth County, Inc, is a constituent part of North Carolina’s statewide Smart Start system that brings together all the people involved in a young child’s life—families, teachers, doctors, caregivers, social workers, and many others—to ensure every child has all they need for healthy growth and development. For more information about early childhood education, development, and care in Forsyth County, visit www.SmartStart-FC.org.
