Literacy Week brings authors to local schools

Annual literacy event promotes life-long reading and writing habits

(Marietta, GA – November 8, 2017) – Students from 43 schools across metro Atlanta received visits from 11 award-winning children’s book authors during Literacy Week, a weeklong celebration of reading and writing hosted by Cobb EMC and Gas South.
“Our original goal for Literacy Week was to encourage students’ love of reading,” said Mark Justice, director of education and community relations at Cobb EMC. “Eight years into the event, we hear stories from parents like one student who hurried home from an author visit, got out paper and pencil and started writing her own book. The authors’ impact on students is evident, and we’re proud to help provide this experience to local students.”
Throughout the week, authors challenged 24,000 students to expand their creativity through writing and illustration and to build life-long reading habits. Guest authors included several Georgia writers, as well as NASA author, speaker and space historian Andrew Chaiken and New York Times bestselling author Brian Lies.
“Gas South is committed to giving back to our communities – when children thrive, our communities thrive,” said Carley Stephens, senior community affairs coordinator. “Every child deserves the best possible future and we know that a good education is the foundation for success. Gas South is proud to Be a Fuel for Good by exposing children to great learning experiences and Literacy Week is one of the great ways in which we do that.”

2017 Literacy Week Authors Local companies Cobb EMC and Gas South brought together 11 award-winning children’s book authors for the companies’ 8th annual Literacy Week event, which celebrates reading and writing.Brian Lies New York Times bestselling author Brian Lies teaches students about illustration during Literacy Week.

About Cobb EMC
Cobb Electric Membership Corporation, a not-for-profit electric cooperative, safely delivers reliable electricity to more than 180,000 residential and commercial members in Cobb, Bartow, Cherokee, Fulton, and Paulding counties. Cobb EMC’s distribution system consists of more than 9,000 miles of line over 432 square miles. With more than 200,000 meters served, Cobb EMC is one of the largest of Georgia's 41 EMCs and among the largest of the nation's 900 EMCs. For more information, visit www.cobbemc.com, or follow Cobb EMC on Facebook, Twitter or YouTube.

About Gas South
Gas South is a leading provider of natural gas in competitive retail markets and serves approximately 300,000 residential, business and governmental customers throughout the southeast. Based in Atlanta, Gas South offers great everyday low rates with no deposit, outstanding local customer service and a dedication to giving back to the communities it serves. In 2017, the company was named one of the “Top Workplaces in Atlanta” for the second consecutive year by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Gas South is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Cobb EMC, one of the country’s largest electric cooperatives. For more information, visit www.gassouth.com.