Houston County Kicks Off Summer Reading Program, College Savings Sweepstakes

PERRY, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) — 9-year-old Bailey Arnold says there’s nothing better than getting lost in a good book.

“I love like when you’re reading and you get into the book, and once you get like deep into the book it feels like you’re in the book.”

Her favorite book is “The Doll and the Garden.” It’s different than Nathaniel O’Neill’s favorite book, “Percy Jackson and the Lost Olympian.” The two Houston County kids do agree on one thing though, they love books.

“You can learn new things. You can also just read to have fun,” said O’Neill.

That wasn’t the only message state leaders were spreading at Houston County’s summer reading kick off beach party. Georgia state Librarian, Lamar Veatch, says it’s time for all kids to start reading, and saving for their future.

“If you can read you can do anything, and number two to get them to convince their parents to start saving for college,” said Veatch.

Georgia’s Path2College 529 Plan is partnering with libraries across the state for the “Reading Makes Cent$” sweepstakes. At the end of the summer, one kid enrolled in summer reading will win a $5,529 college scholarship.

“We want when children get to the point of deciding what college they want to go to, we don’t want them to be limited by the amount of money they have,” said Mitch Seabaugh, Director of Path2College 529 Plan.

One way they can begin building that bank account is by enrolling in summer reading programs at their local libraries, and then entering the sweepstakes. You can learn more about the contest by clicking here.