Get ready to step into a night you will not forget. Smart Start of Forsyth County invites you to Raising Forsyth 2026: Party Like It's 1999 — our signature annual fundraising gala and the most anticipated event of the year. This is not your average fundraiser. This is a full celebration of community, impact, and the children and families at the heart of everything we do.

The Millennium Event Center will be fully transformed in a stunning purple and gold Prince-inspired colorway, setting the stage for an immersive, unforgettable evening featuring DJ Energizer spinning hits from the 80s, 90s, and early 2000s, a live Prince tribute performance, dinner service, a live auction, and powerful Mission Moments from families and educators whose lives have been transformed by Smart Start programs.

Dress the Part — Semi-formal attire is required, and Prince-inspired style is strongly encouraged. Think bold colors, regal silhouettes, and statement pieces that honor the Purple One. Our best-dressed guests will be celebrated throughout the evening.

Every ticket purchased directly supports programs reaching more than 20,000 children, families, educators, and partners each year — including emergency childcare assistance, the Diaper Bank, S.T.A.R. Family Resource Center services, early educator professional development, and Dolly Parton's Imagination Library.

Become a Sponsor. Be a Champion. Sponsorship opportunities range from $2,000 – $15,000 and include premium recognition, event access, and a post-event impact report. Early-bird tickets are available for $100 per person through March 23, 2026.

Tickets and sponsorship information: smartstart-fc.org/get-involved/raising-forsyth-2026

Sponsorship inquiries: Marvin J. Fulwood III | marvinf@smartstart-fc.org | (336) 568-7918

Let's celebrate the past — and invest in the future.

Community Connection Carnival

Saturday, April 25, 2026

12:00 PM - 3:00 PM

Bolton Park (1590 Bolton St. SW, Winston-Salem, NC, 27103)

Join us for a day of family fun featuring games, resources, health screenings, and more! This FREE community event brings families together while connecting them with valuable early childhood resources.

Vendors Welcome! We are looking for businesses, nonprofits, and food vendors to join us. Sign up to be part of this exciting community event.

On March 2nd, Smart Start of Forsyth County hosted its 2nd SPARK Apprenticeship Community Night, bringing together prospective high school apprentices, families, childcare providers, and education partners for an evening of connection and discovery. Attendees learned how SPARK creates a paid, debt-free pathway into early childhood education — where students earn real credentials, gain classroom experience, and qualify for NC Pre-K positions upon completion. The evening featured a provider panel with representatives from Bailey Preschool, First Baptist Childcare Development Center, and Quality Education Institute, who shared their passion for the profession and what students can expect working alongside experienced educators. We are deeply grateful for their partnership and for opening their doors to our first cohort of apprentices.

This summer, SPARK will launch its inaugural cohort as students begin their journey through Forsyth Technical Community College's Childcare Workforce Academies—a compressed training program that equips them with foundational skills before entering the classroom. From there, apprentices will move into paid placements with local providers, working toward their Child Development Associate credential and building careers in one of the most essential fields in our community.

SPARK is made possible through partnerships with Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools, Forsyth Technical Community College, ApprenticeshipNC, the Council of Professional Recognition, and the NC Partnership for Children. To learn more about SPARK, contact Je'Lisa Myers or Daniel Ferguson at pki@smartstart-fc.org. For more information about Child Care Academies at Forsyth Tech, contact Dr. Crystal Harvey at charvey@forsythtech.edu.

Males Aspiring Long-Term Excellence (M.A.L.E.) Initiative has strategically embedded dedicated Fatherhood Advocates at three childcare sites across the community, marking a significant milestone in our commitment to father engagement. These advocates, who previously served as Fatherhood Representatives, have been elevated in both role and responsibility now serving as the primary point of contact for fathers at each site. Through intentional relationship-building, structured programming, and on-site presence, M.A.L.E. Fatherhood Advocates are actively teaching, equipping, and engaging fathers to take a more active role in their children's early learning and development

Through intentional relationship-building, structured programming, and consistent on-site presence, Family Engagement Leadership Fatherhood Advocates are actively teaching, equipping, and engaging fathers, mothers, grandparents, guardians, and extended family members to take a more meaningful and active role in their children's early learning and development. This model reflects the core mission of the Family Engagement Leadership Program ensuring that every member of the family unit, whether a two-parent household, single-parent home, grandparent-led family, or blended family, is seen, supported, and strengthened.

Smart Start of Forsyth County administers the City of Winston-Salem Transformational Childcare Relief Initiative (City of Winston-Salem ARPA Initiative), an ARPA-funded program that supports family childcare educators in Winston-Salem's Qualified Census Tract communities, where 53% of children live in childcare deserts, and 28% of facilities closed due to COVID-19. The 3-year program provides comprehensive support to family childcare educators who care for infants and toddlers.

Current results are strong with 12 participating family childcare homes, all of which have earned a 4-star or 5-star rated license, 55 children across 165 families, with educators receiving

comprehensive support. Children are showing positive development across all domains using the Teaching Strategies Gold assessment system. This early implementation success demonstrates the program's effectiveness in enhancing childcare access, quality, and workforce stability in targeted communities.

This wonderful program, providing targeted support for infants and toddlers, is currently accepting applications for participation. Partner slots are still available for the grant project. If you are interested in joining the program, please contact Vanessa Sawyer-Wilson at 336 714-4379.

United Way of Forsyth County: Connecting People,

Resources & Opportunity

This month, we are proud to highlight our community partner, United Way of Forsyth County (UWFC)—an organization dedicated to bringing people, resources, and organizations together to solve complex challenges facing our community.

United Way believes that the most significant issues affecting families—such as economic mobility, health, and education—are deeply interconnected. Through strong partnerships with nonprofits, community leaders, and volunteers, UWFC identifies the community’s most pressing needs and strategically invests resources to create lasting impact. Their work focuses on strengthening neighborhoods, supporting families, and ensuring every child and student has the opportunity to succeed.

UWFC currently invests in 55 programs across 32 local nonprofit partners, helping deliver services that improve economic mobility, expand access to

Rose Weaves a Garden

by Rashin Kheiriyeh

Some of the most meaningful lessons we learn come not from a classroom, but from the hands of someone who loves us. In this tender picture book, young Rose shares a special bond with her Baba joon — her grandfather — who loves three things most in the world: his loom, his garden, and Rose herself.

When Rose decides she wants to weave her own rug inspired by a drawing of their garden, Baba joon is overjoyed to teach her. Side by side at the loom, they tie thousands of colorful knots together — until Baba falls ill and Rose must find the courage to finish the rug on her own.

What unfolds is a moving and beautifully illustrated story about love,

March is Women's History Month, a time to recognize the countless women whose ideas, leadership, and determination have shaped the world we live in today.

From pioneers like Grace Hopper, who helped develop the first computer compiler, to Katherine Johnson, whose mathematical calculations powered NASA's early space missions, women have played a vital role in advancing science, technology, education, and innovation.

Their contributions remind us why encouraging girls and young women to explore STEM fields, leadership opportunities, and education pathways remains so important.