In 1997, several community-minded individuals joined forces to bring Rolling Readers USA, a California-based children's literacy organization, to the Midlands. Their efforts pioneered the first children's literacy organization to meet the growing need for intervention in children's literacy and school-preparedness. Rolling Readers became the children's division of the Greater Columbia Literacy Council in order to impact illiteracy on every age level. Rolling Readers remains autonomous, although the GCLC retains fiduciary oversight, and their CEO remains an ex-officio voting member of our board. In 2005, GCLC merged with Volunteers of America of the Carolinas.

Through the partnership with Rolling Readers USA and their joint grant with America Reads and the Corporation for National Service in Washington, we were able to recruit Americorp VISTAs (Volunteers In Service To America) to serve one-year terms in order to assist in capacity building, fundraising, and volunteer recruitment. This was very beneficial to increase the presence of Rolling Readers and make initial contacts in the community. However, it became very apparent that in order to bring organization and consistency in program development, as well as increase volunteer recruitment and retention, the board needed to hire a part-time program manager. In addition, the program manager would provide administrative responsibilities to funders and CNS. It was through our partnership with Central Carolina Community Foundation and matching grants with the Points of Light and Sisters of Charity that brought this to fruition in October 2000. We have experienced significant growth over the past three years from our humble beginnings of a handful of volunteers serving two sites to a team of 100+ volunteers at 57 sites serving over 3,000 children and distributing over 6,000 books. This has been accomplished through the guidance of a volunteer board of directors, part-time program manager and three Americorp VISTAs.

Through the financial and supportive efforts of the Points of Light, we recently developed a strategic plan, adopted by-laws, and our board of advisors has emerged into a board of directors with newly recruited members. Over the past four years, Rolling Readers' efforts have been recognized with the following awards:

• "Celebrate Literacy Award" presented by Columbia Area Reading Council (2002)
• "SC's Year of the Child Hero" awarded by Governor Hodges (2001)
• Gov. Hodges' "Early Childhood Education Advocacy Award" (2000)
• Certificate of recognition from the Senate of South Carolina (1999)
• Recognized for outstanding volunteer service by the United Way (1998)

Rolling Readers of the Midlands
Executive Advisory Council, 2006

Joseph Azar
Owner, Upstairs Audio

Rhonda Ellis
Southern First

Joanne Kightlinger - Chair
Manager, KPR Foods (Tyson Foods Family)

Mandi Kirkpatrick - Vice Chair
Tyson Foods

Melinda Mukofsky
Vice-President, MarketSearch

Fenton Overdyke
Vice-President, MarketSearch

Michael Thomas
City of Columbia Fire Department

Peggy Watson - Secretary
Watson Library Services, Inc.

Debbie Yoho
Chief Executive Officer, Greater Columbia Literacy Council

Staff:
Darlene Paradise, Program Manager