In 2019, the GFWC Lilburn Woman’s Club (LWC) researched this project and decided we needed to adopt it.  We are committed to providing an age-appropriate dictionary to every third-grade student in Lilburn's public elementary schools.  This initiative recognizes the crucial transition in third grade, when children shift from "learning to read" to "reading to learn," and aims to equip them with the tools they need for academic success.

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With approximately 1,400 third graders across eight Lilburn public elementary schools, the LWC partners with other organizations to ensure the project's success.  Generous past sponsors include the Lilburn Business Association, Sweetwater Masonic Lodge #421, Walton EMC, Believe in Reading, and individual LWC members.  We are thrilled to currently have Jackson EMC as our sponsor.

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These child-friendly dictionaries contain over 35,000 entries, clearly marked parts of speech, pronunciation guides, and punctuation examples.  Beyond the dictionary itself, a comprehensive 150-page reference section offers a wealth of information, including details about the solar system, international flags, U.S. Presidents, the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution, sign language instructions, Braille, and much more.

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History

The Dictionary Project began in 1992 with Annie Plummer of Savannah, Georgia, who donated 50 dictionaries to a local school.  Her passion grew, and she eventually provided 17,000 dictionaries annually to children in Savannah.  Inspired by Plummer's work, Bonnie Beeferman of Hilton Head, South Carolina, initiated a similar program.  Her letter to the editor of the Charleston Post and Courier garnered widespread support, leading Mary French to take on the project with enthusiasm.

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Recognizing the scale of the undertaking, Mary and her late husband, Arno French, established The Dictionary Project as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in 1995.  With Arno as President and Mary as Director, the project has flourished, distributing over 18 million dictionaries to children across the United States since its inception.

The Dictionary Project has also generously supported our community challenge.  When Mary French learned of the LWC's efforts, she donated numerous cases of dictionaries to help us reach our goal.