Earlier this year, a group of local children embarked on a mission to promote literacy and local history, and they were able to raise nearly $900 to help a local school purchase reading materials.
The Fort Watauga Society of the Children of the American Revolution held a special fundraiser in January at Barnes & Noble bookstore in Johnson City. During the five-day event, the store donated a portion of the proceeds from purchases made by customers who either presented a customized CAR ticket to the cashier or who told the store employee they wanted to support CAR.
On Friday, members of the Fort Watauga Society CAR presented a check for $889.67 to West Side Elementary teacher Tammy Markland to be used to purchase reading supplies for the school’s literacy initiatives.
Each year, the Tennessee President for CAR selects a particular project or worthy cause to be the official fundraising project for the state societies that year. This year, the focus for the societies was literacy, said Melodie Daniels, whose sons Ivan and Cohen are officers in the Fort Watauga Society CAR.
“We raised the most funds of any CAR society in the state of Tennessee,” Daniels said.
The Fort Watauga Society CAR members recently attended the state CAR conference and were awarded a first place prize for their efforts with the campaign and for being the top fundraising society for the literacy campaign, Daniels said.
Fort Watauga Society CAR President Ivan Daniels, Vice President Matthew Simerly, and Chaplain Cohen Daniels presented the check to Markland on Friday at a special ceremony at the school. The group also presented Markland with a special Overmountain Victory Trail Association pin to thank her for her assistance with the fundraiser and her support of the CAR society.
Joining the CAR members in the presentation was Ronnie Lail, a member of the Watauga Society of the Sons of the American Revolution. The Watauga Society is the sponsoring agency for the Fort Watauga Society CAR. Lail also serves as the 1st District Director of the Tennessee Society of the Sons of the American Revolution and as the Grand Marshall of the Overmountain Victory Trail Association. Representing the Daughters of the American Revolution were Melodie Daniels, of the John Sevier & Sarah Hawkins chapter, and Kay Millsaps, of the Ann Robertson chapter.