The 5th Annual Leap for Literacy will be held Saturday, Feb. 28 at 10:30 a.m. at War Hill Park on Lake Lanier.

Proceeds benefit Dawson County Wee Books Program Inc., a nonprofit organization that promotes literacy in preschool-aged children.

Wee Books chair, Lionel Graves, said he hopes this years total will surpass last years$6,000.

Seventy-two people have signed up to participate by either leaping or toe-tapping their way into the frigid waters of Lake Lanier.

Water temperatures during last years leap were 42 degrees, the coldest Graves said he can recall during his five years with the program.

Dawson Wee Books mails books to registered children ages 0-5 within the county.

We go to places where young kids are going to be, said Graves.

Events such as Kindergarten Round-up, the annual Moonshine Festival, and Trunk-or-Treat

at Rock Creek Park have helped increase the number of participants from 400 to roughly 750.

Additionally, enrollment forms are left at offices of pediatricians, the Dawson County Health Department and RIC Rack.

Graves estimated that there are about 1,200 children under the age of 5 in the county.

Leap for Literacy is one of two major fundraisers for Dawson County Wee Books.

The other is a barn dance at Kinsey Family Farm, scheduled for April 2015.

People are encouraged to join in the fun as individuals or in teams up to four members.

For more information or to pre-register teams, you may call 706-216-0173 or email dawsonweebooks@gmail.com.