THE WASHINGTON COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT FOUNDATION partnered with Dixie Power in 1999 in an effort to promote reading in the Washington County School District, and together they created the Dixie Power Kite Festival. Since it began, this event has literally helped generations of families and tens of thousands of children in Washington County. The Dixie Power Kite Festival has become the premier literacy and community event in the county, bringing thousands of students and families together for literacy and fun.

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The Mission of the Dixie Power Kite Festival is four-fold:

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1. Promote reading as a fundamental basis of education for every child of elementary school age.

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2. Provide a wholesome, uplifting, family-oriented event where everyone can participate regardless of experience, training, financial means or physical abilities.

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3. Support education with additional funding made available to participating schools at the discretion of the Washington County School District Foundation (WCSD).

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4. Patronize those members of the business community whose financial sponsorships make the Kite Festival possible.

In early January, elementary students receive a reading chart and are given the challenge to read at home. For 13 weeks, students record their daily reading on the chart and have their parent or guardian sign it. Students bring the completed charts to the festival and are rewarded with a kite, a book or a $10 voucher for games or rides. The festival has kite flying, vendor booths, continuous entertainment, games, bounce houses, and delicious food.

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All of the proceeds earned from the festival are donated back to the WCSD Foundation for literacy programs throughout the District. To date, Dixie Power Kite Festival has donated more than $1,000,000 in cash and service to our elementary schools through this event. We are appreciative of Dixie Power for their on-going support of our students through the Kite Festival. Their employees work tirelessly in the planning, setup, and takedown of the event and volunteer hundreds, even thousands of hours of their time. The festival steering committee consists of volunteers in the community who meet all year long to plan and execute the festival. We could not do it without them. We have amazing sponsors who step up and support year after year. Thank you to all who help in any way.

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