A local literacy advocacy group has an evening of dancing and dining planned this week to help raise dollars for its ongoing efforts.

Organizers with Reading Education Association of Dawson County encourage residents to come out April 30 to Racing Toward Literacy, an event at the Georgia Racing Hall of Fame.

READ Director Sandy Lipkowitz said the gathering will feature music from “an awesome band,” dinner and a chance to see all of the exhibits at the racing hall of fame, which is at Dawsonville City Hall.

Lipkowitz said money raised from the event will help the group continue to provide summer reading books “for students targeted by teachers as not having access to books over the summer.”

She said that last year, READ provided 240 students with books, “and it looks like that number will increase this year.”

In addition, money raised from Racing Toward Literacy will help the nonprofit to offset the costs of rising GED fees.

A large part of READ’s mission, Lipkowitz said, is to help those who do not have the financial means to get a GED but have a desire to do so.

“The fees are going up from $19 a section to $50 a section,” she said. “We’re trying to figure out how we’re going to be able to help as many students as we have in the past, because that’s more than doubling what it’s going to cost to get a GED.”

Added Lipkowitz: “We’ve got a big challenge ahead of us, and we’re going to try to do the best we can to keep helping the people that need it most.”

Tickets for Racing Toward Literacy are $30 each. The event runs from 6 to 10 p.m. April 30. Tables of six and eight are available. There will also be a cash bar.

According to its mission statement, READ’s hope is to “work as a collaborative organization with community, government, schools and business leaders to coordinate, promote and advocate for families who do not possess the literary skills to achieve their full potential.”

For more information about Racing Toward Literacy, contact Lipkowitz at (706) 579-1771 or e-mail readdawson@yahoo.com.