Last week, one of the county’s most invaluable non profit organizations, READ, installed new Executive Director Sandy Lipkowitz as the commander in chief to head up the program.

Lipkowitz succeeds the previous director of two years, Sue Tennant, who resigned in January for health reasons.

“We are so pleased to welcome Sandy into our organization,” said the organization’s president, Carol Tyger. “She possesses many talents, including the ability to cultivate strong partnerships with organizations like Ronald McDonald House Charities, Boys and Girls Club of Atlanta and the Atlanta City Schools.”

The READ program, Reading Education Association of Dawson, seeks to provide the community with a “united” force, dedicated  to addressing Dawson County’s literacy issues.

Lipkowitz comes to READ with a resume that includes non profit experience in many different capacities, including four years as  director of grants and scholarships of the Atlanta Ronald McDonald House Charity. Most recently she served as a family support worker for the Prevent Child Abuse program in Pickens County.

Looking forward to her new initiative, Lipkowitz says there is more to the excitement of becoming a new member of a community.

“Besides being really excited and learning everything I can about Dawson County, I hope we (READ) can encourage young people to graduate high school and get their diploma, or complete the GED program to get a diploma,” said Lipkowitz.

“My goal as the new director is to raise the level of citizens with a high school diploma, whether through traditional graduation or the GED program,  in order for Dawson County to become a certified literate community,” Lipkowitz added.

Looking forward to the program’s new director, Tyger added: “Sandy (Lipkowitz) has an energetic and enthusiastic way about her. She is thrilled to move the initiatives of READ forward in our mission to advocate for families who do not possess the literacy skills necessary to achieve their full potential.”

According to Lipkowitz, reading is so important for comprehension and everything you do throughout the rest of your life.