by: Jason Lemley | Rotary Club of Dahlonega
The Lumpkin County High School auditorium buzzed with excitement as hundreds of second graders took their seats, clutching brightly colored bookmarks and whispering to friends about the books they hoped to read next. Moments later, the room erupted in cheers as a guest reader stepped to the microphone and held up the day’s featured story, The Magician’s Hat. That guest reader was Super Bowl Champion and literacy advocate, Malcolm Mitchell. For many of these students, this was more than just another school event—it was their first time attending the Second Grade Reading Rally, a celebration of books made possible through the support of local Rotarians and district grants from The Rotary Foundation.
The rally has quickly become one of Lumpkin County’s most joyful literacy traditions. It is also a visible symbol of a broader movement that has been building across the community for the past three years.
That movement began when leaders from the Lumpkin County School System and Dahlonega’s two Rotary clubs came together to ask a simple but powerful question: What would it look like if our entire community worked together to help every child become a confident reader?
“We knew literacy was the foundation for everything else our students would achieve,” said Mrs. Head, superintendent of Lumpkin County Schools and member of the Dahlonega Rotary Club. “But we also knew that schools can’t do this work alone. When community organizations and service clubs step in alongside educators, the impact multiplies.”
Rotary was one of the first organizations to answer that call.
Through district grants from The Rotary Foundation, the Dahlonega Sunrise Rotary Club and the Dahlonega Rotary Club partnered with the school system to launch the Second Grade Reading Rally—an event designed to inspire a love of reading at a critical moment in students’ development.
Second grade is often when young readers transition from learning to read to reading independently. The rally celebrates that milestone in a way students won’t soon forget.
During the event, every second grader in the Lumpkin County School System participates in an energetic program featuring a guest reader, interactive literacy activities, and a community-wide message that reading is something to celebrate. At the end of the rally, each child receives a book to take home, ensuring that the excitement of the day continues long after the buses leave.
“Rotary believes in investing in young people and strengthening communities,” said Whittney McPherson, President of the Dahlonega Sunrise Rotary Club. “When we saw the opportunity to support literacy through the Reading Rally, it was an easy decision. The Rotary Foundation district grants helped us turn a great idea into a meaningful experience for every second grader in our county.”
The rally is just one piece of a larger effort that has grown steadily over the past three years. Through community partnerships, community organizations have worked together to expand access to books, increase family engagement in reading, and create literacy opportunities across the county.
The Lumpkin County Library has expanded reading programs and outreach events for families. Family Connection has helped coordinate parent engagement activities and early learning initiatives. The Lumpkin Literacy Coalition has supported volunteer reading programs and community book drives. Meanwhile, educators across the school system have strengthened instruction through professional learning focused on evidence-based literacy practices.
Together, these efforts have helped create a culture where reading is celebrated not just in classrooms, but throughout the community.
“We’ve seen something special happen when organizations work together around a shared purpose,” said Jason Lemley, Director of Community Engagement for Lumpkin County Schools and President-Elect for Dahlonega Sunrise Rotary Club. “Literacy has become a true community priority—from Rotary volunteers supporting book initiatives to families attending library programs and students proudly sharing the stories they’re reading.”
The results are encouraging. Over the past three years, literacy programs have expanded across Lumpkin County, thousands of books have been placed in the hands of students, and participation in reading initiatives has grown significantly.
Earlier this year, those collaborative efforts were recognized statewide when Lumpkin County was named a Georgia Reads Community, an honor given to communities demonstrating strong partnerships and measurable progress in improving literacy.
For the Rotarians who helped spark the Reading Rally, the recognition reflects the power of community service.
“The best part is seeing the excitement on the students’ faces,” said McPherson. “You realize that something as simple as giving a child a book can open doors that last a lifetime.”
As the final story of the rally concluded and students lined up to receive their new books, the energy in the room was unmistakable. Some students immediately began flipping through the pages. Others held their books tightly, eager to take them home.
In that moment, the purpose behind the partnership was clear.
When a community comes together to support literacy—and when Rotary helps lead the effort—young readers gain more than books. They gain the confidence, curiosity, and opportunity to write the next chapter of their own story.
