Partnership for Children promotes literacy with space-themed reading program
Columbus County Partnership for Children (CCPC) implemented a literacy program for elementary students during a summer reading camp in June at Edgewood Elementary.
CCPC has been providing this program for the past four years thanks to a $5,000 Champions for Literacy grant, which is made possible by corporate sponsors like International Paper who support the Fight for Literacy Games, through which collegiate sports teams – in the case of CCPC, the North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University (A&T University) – raise awareness and funding for local childhood literacy efforts.
This year, the students chose “space” as the theme. CCPC staff visited the students twice a week for two weeks, reading space-themed books and leading the students in space-themed activities, including launching foam rockets.
One of CCPC’s goals is to encourage students to read more. The students’ efforts were incentivized with prizes for the girl and boy who read and logged the most books in their literary “passport,” a small blue booklet in which they document the books they’ve read. This year’s winners, Emarie, Nixon and Isaiah, the later two having tied, read 24 and 11 books, respectively.
The boy and girl who improved their DIBELS scores the most from beginning to end of the program also received prizes. The top students, Naomi and Mathias, improved 45 and 36 points, respectively.
“We are so grateful to have received funding to offer this literacy program to children who just need a little help,” said Dr. Selena Rowell, executive director, CCPC. “Our gratitude extends to International Paper, now Global Cellulose Fibers, and NC A&T State University for allowing this unique opportunity for Columbus County children.”
The program is part of CCPC’s literacy effort, Let’s Read, Columbus!, which aims to improve the literacy rate of Columbus County children. The 2025 NC Data Card reports that as of the 2023-2024 school year, just 41.7 percent of 3rd-grade students in the county scored proficient in reading, which is below the state average of 48.6 percent.
For additional information about Columbus County Partnership for Children, call 910-642-8226. Visit the office at 109 W. Main St. in Whiteville or online at www.columbussmartstart.com. “Like” ColumbusSmartStart on Facebook.
About International Paper, now Global Cellulose Fibers (GCF)
International Paper (NYSE: IP; LSE: IPC) is the global leader in sustainable packaging solutions. With company headquarters in Memphis, Tennessee, USA, and EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) headquarters in London, UK, we employ more than 65,000 team members and serve customers around the world with operations in more than 30 countries. Together with our customers, we make the world safer and more productive, one sustainable packaging solution at a time. Net sales for 2024 were $18.6 billion. In 2025, International Paper acquired DS Smith creating an industry leader focused on the attractive and growing North American and EMEA regions. Additional information can be found by visiting internationalpaper.com
About Champions for Literacy
Founded in 2013 by two high school athletes, Champions for Literacy uses the power of sports to impact childhood reading. CFL has hosted 350+ Fight for Literacy Games with 150+ collegiate athletic teams, generating more than $1.8 million to fund critical reading projects for 95,000 kids. For more information and to learn how you can get involved, visit ChampionsForLit.org.
