Counterpane recently received a $15,000 grant from United Way of Metropolitan Atlanta for the Souns for Literacy Program for Infants and Toddlers.

Brenda Erickson of Counterpane School is committed to affecting literacy through an outreach infant and toddler program called Souns. Souns relies on incidental learning and focuses on lowercase letters and their sounds (as opposed to letter names) during a child’s most language sensitive period – from birth to 24 months. To ensure that the program is financially within reach of childcare centers and diverse populations in the metro-Atlanta community, United Way has granted funds for production of the Souns letters in quantity. Through this grant, United Way invests in Souns as a change agent for the serious literacy issues in this community and in this country. The infant and toddler is a natural learner. The Souns program provides the right information at the right time and in the right way.

“I would like to thank United Way, Rotary International and the Rotary Club of Peachtree City, the Fayette Family YMCA, the Peachtree City Public Library, Babies-Can’t-Wait, the International Rescue Committee, the Joseph Sams School, and the Frazer Center for their unfaltering faith in this program,” said Erickson. “Souns is, indeed, making a difference!”

For information on Souns, visit www.souns.org or call 770-335-2743.