The local agency dedicated to providing for underprivileged children in Dawson County was recently granted a service mark by the Georgia Secretary of State.

Calvin Byrd, president of KARE for Kids, said the group applied for the service mark, similar to a trademark, to create a branding for the nonprofit organization and its signature annual fundraiser, the Mountain Moonshine Festival.

"There have been one or two more festivals out there that were starting to pop up with moonshine or mountain moonshine in the name," Byrd said. "We felt like we needed to protect what KARE for Kids and the community has turned into a major event for us."

An estimated 100,000 visitors attend the local festival each year. Proceeds allowed the group to purchase Christmas presents for more than 700 children last year, as well as provide hundreds of children with clothing, school supplies and medical needs throughout the year.

"There's nothing worse than not having something at Christmas, on Christmas morning under the tree, when you're a child," Byrd said. "We've also understood that there's more than just Christmas needs out there so we've tried to expand our organization's assistance."

This year, the festival will be held Oct. 22 and 23 in downtown Dawsonville.

"This year we've spent more money in advertising and have teamed up with the chamber so we're expecting the crowds to be a lot bigger," Byrd said. "The more [money] that we can raise and the more that the community knows about us, the more we can do. Our purpose is for the kids to help them have a better childhood and life."

KARE for Kids will begin accepting applications for holiday assistance Oct. 24.

For more information, go to www.kareforkids.us.