Dollar General Literacy Foundation gives reading program $40,000

Submitted by Donna Clark • FiftyForward Communications Director • July 2, 2008 The Dollar General Literacy Foundation has awarded $40,000 to Friends Learning in Pairs, which promotes literacy among elementary students in Davidson and Williamson counties. FLIP is an intergenerational, volunteer tutoring program sponsored by FiftyForward. Since 1993, tutors have provided encouragement and assistance to children in grades K-4 who are experiencing difficulty with their reading skills. "In April, we were faced with the possibility of having to cut 23 partner schools because of lack of funding. This would have resulted in the cancellation of services to approximately 350 students and the loss of many dedicated volunteers," said FLIP program manager Sandra Thomas. "Because of this generous donation by the Dollar General Literacy Foundation, students will continue to receive that needed support from a friend, and volunteers will continue to encourage and share in the excitement of learning." During the 2007-08 school year, FiftyForward FLIP volunteers tutored about 800 students at 47 elementary schools in Davidson and Williamson Counties. On average, 79 percent of students who received help from a FLIP tutor increased their reading and comprehension levels. "Sometimes all a child needs is one person to believe in them and a few minutes of one-on-one instruction in order to achieve academic success," said Rick Dreiling, CEO, Dollar General Corp. "FLIP pairs a child who is struggling academically with a compassionate senior volunteer who is knowledgeable and committed to working one-on-one. We are proud to support FLIP's continued success." FLIP coordinators in Davidson and Williamson counties will begin training current and new volunteers in August for the upcoming school year.

Zoo welcomes "not-so-giant" anteater

The Nashville Zoo recently welcomed its eighth giant anteater, which isn’t so giant as of yet.

Consuela was born on Mother’s Day to Emilia, a wild-caught giant anteater that came to the Nashville Zoo in 2002.

The Nashville Zoo has been involved in giant anteater conservation for 10 years and has the largest collection of anteaters in the country.

The off-exhibit breeding facility, where Consuela was born, is also the only anteater breeding facility in the U.S.Consuela and the zoo’s dozen other anteaters will make their public debut in a multimillion-dollar, 4.5-acre South American exhibit being designed by zoo president Rick Schwartz.“The exhibit will feature tapirs, giant otters, jaguars, jabiru storks, saki and howler monkeys as well as giant anteaters and other South American animals,” said Schwartz.

“When complete, the new exhibit will double the number of animal species exhibited at the zoo.” With an All Access Expedition Tour or a Back Stage Pass Tour, curious guests will have the chance to view Nashville Zoo’s anteaters before their official debut.Visit http://www.nashvillezoo.org/ for more information on these special opportunities as well as anteater updates.

Second Harvest in Need of Baby Items

Reported of WKRN (Channel 2 News) Second Harvest Food Bank is feeling the effects of the struggling economy. While donations are down and demand is up across the board, the need for items like baby formula is almost at its greatest in 11 years. Second Harvest has been forced to start rationing the small amount of baby formula they have left. Kelli Garrett, Second Harvest , said, "We used to be able to give out maybe three or four when we had more formula on hand but we've had to cut back on what we can give to those families." Garrett said what supply they currently now, will probably only last a few more months. Second Harvest said baby formula isn't one of the popular items to be donated, part of the reason being people who go to the grocery store and don't have kids don't go down the baby food isle. "It's very difficult for those families having to choose, do they feed their children or feed themselves, and who wants to make that decision," said Garrett. While Garrett said she never wants to turn people away, it could soon become a reality.

Briefs: Agape offers divorce support for kids, adults

Briefs taken from the Tennessean DivorceCare and DivorceCare for Kids (DC4K) are support groups for people experiencing the pain of separation and divorce. DC4K serves children of elementary school age. Agape, 4555 Trousdale Drive, is offering an abbreviated version of the program starting June 2. Groups will meet concurrently for eight weeks at 6-7:30 p.m. Mondays. Cost for the entire series of DivorceCare is $20, and for DC4K it is $25. For registration, or for more information, call Diana, Jennifer or Vickie at 781-3000. Community theater troupe holds auditions Community Players announces that Mark Brown's adaptation of Around the World in 80 Days will be presented Aug. 1-15. Auditions will be 6:30-8:30p.m. Wednesday, May 28, and Thursday, May 29, at Cedar Ridge Community of Christ Church, 3220 Bell Road. Thirty-nine roles are available for men and women, with an age range of 13 to 90. Most characters have multiple parts. Auditions will include readings from the script. For details, send an e-mail to director David McGinnis at Onstage3@aol.com.

Woman in iron lung 'had strength, honor'

The following story inspired me very much the other day so I posted to show a Woman's strength and what she was up against. By TYRONE TONY REED JR. • Gannett Tennessee • June 1, 2008 JACKSON, Tenn. — Family and friends celebrated the life of Dianne Odell on Saturday, not because she was the nation's longest survivor in an iron lung, but because she did not let her situation get her down. "She was a woman of noble character, who had strength, was not afraid, had honor, wisdom and kindness," said Ray Hawk, minister of Campbell Street Church of Christ. Hundreds of people attended Odell's funeral, which was held at the church. She was buried at Nebo Cemetery in Henderson County. Odell died at age 61 on Wednesday after a power failure caused her iron lung to shut down. A generator the family had on hand to power the iron lung in case of an outage did not come on. Odell was diagnosed at the age of 3 with bulbar polio, which left her paralyzed and unable to breathe on her own. But she did not let her condition keep her from living life to the fullest and reaching out to others, Hawk said. Odell wrote a book, Blinky Less Light, about the smallest star in heaven. The children's book, which took her 10 years to finish, has almost sold out of the 100,000 copies printed. "There are many children who will be helped by her writings," Hawk said. "She was known by folks, literally, all over the world." Hawk added, "She had a beauty that did not fade away. She never lost her true beauty or her real charm." James Meadows, former minister of East Chester Street Church of Christ, said Odell learned to be content in her iron lung and decided to have a positive outlook on life for herself and others around her. "She was a friend because she showed herself to be friendly," Meadows said. Meadows said he talked to Odell's family and asked them what they would remember most about her. "Her sisters, Donna (Lewis) and Mary Beth (Beyer), said that they were sisters who had little squabbles and their differences, but they loved each other," Meadows said. "Her father, Freeman, said that he will remember that she wanted a kiss every night. Her mother, Geneva, said that she will remember that Dianne never complained about her condition and that she was pleasant." Hawk said the family appreciated the community's support in Odell's life and her death. "Dianne is free from her pain, free from the iron lung and free from a body that no longer served her well," Hawk said. "She is now free to enjoy heaven for eternity."