Annual Darracott Challenge Prize

One of the main activities of the Foundation is to work with people and groups directly involved in field work to seek out deserving candidates for the annual Darracott Challenge Prize. The prizes carry with them a significant cash award and will be awarded in a way that is intended to focus public and media attention on what we believe to be outstanding early reader help projects, programs and people, whose approach and accomplishments lend themselves to rapid extension and use in other places.

Early Childhood, Early Reader Web Site & Inventory

The Foundation is also contributing by responding to the call of the Early Childhood Summit that was convened in March 2000 at Plymouth Bluff Retreat Center near Columbus for a purpose-built: "Web Site to disseminate information relevant to early childhood programs and issues and to assist in strengthening community partnerships". This on-going inventory aims to provide at no cost a focused selection of background materials, duly selected links and on-line information that can help inform and guarantee the quality of the Foundations efforts, as well as being useful for any and all the groups and people that make use of this site.

Working through Partnerships

The early focus will be on finding ways to support existing programs and innovative efforts aimed at achieving 100% literacy for children in the rural Black community, starting with the strategic support of existing and new programs in Monroe County and Northeast Mississippi. All work of the Foundation is carried out through partnerships with local groups and on a volunteer basis. The Foundation is supported in its work by The Commons, who are undertaking to develop and manage this Web site as well as to put their extensive international network at the service of the Foundation and its projects.