The rain and colder temperatures held off for the Feb. 18 Leap for Literacy, an annual fundraising effort for the Wee Books Community Action Team.
Dawson County showed up for the event, with several people tapping their toes, wading up to their knees or making the huge leap into Lake Lanier at War Hill Park.
County manager Kevin Tanner served as the Master of Ceremonies. Local celebrity judges Ted Bearden, Lisa Thurmond and Jan Whetstone watched as individuals and teams tapped, stood in or leaped into the water.
The judges picked the following as leaping winners:
Best at Leaping Etowah Water and Sewer, Jeff Mohler
Most Creative Costume Dawson County High School, Dave Cockcroft
Funniest Performance Dawson County Womens Club, Gordon Brand
The following were winners among the tappers and ramp runners:
Most Creative Costume Donna Weaver
Best Performance Dawson County Red Hatters
The team from Robinson Elementary team raised the most money for Wee Books at $895.
Wee Books serves approximately 55 percent of preschoolers in Dawson County by sending an age-appropriate book each month for one year to each child.
According to the release, this years event raised approximately $3,500, which is more than double the total from last years event.
[The event] went very well, Lionel Graves, president of Wee Books, said. We had a very big crowd, and were very pleased.
We hope for a bigger turnout next year.