I feel extremely honored to be the second executive director of this great 3-county partnership. The opportunity to succeed Mrs. Carolyn Malone Paylor is an honor that is very difficult to describe. Mrs. Paylor not only birthed this Partnership but worked tirelessly to make it viable in so many facets of our communities. She assembled a dedicated staff, embraced the Smart Start mission and laid a strong foundation of excellence which will allow us to have a successful future. The fact that Carolyn allowed me to be a part of her staff, inspires me to build on her great legacy and ensure that her efforts were not in vain.
The future presents challenges and opportunities for us. The needs of our children continue to be more challenging and diverse. We seek additional funding from many of the same sources other non-profit organizations. In the midst of financial challenges, we see tremendous opportunities to expand our base of partners.
I believe great days lie ahead because of a contagious spirit of volunteerism, service, and commitment. Elected officials, business leaders, educators, child care providers, civic organizations, and parents understand the importance of all children having quality life experiences from birth to age five. With continued support from the total community, bright days do not only lie ahead for our Partnership but for the larger community. The staff and I anxiously anticipate your support to this end.
Please call on me if I can be of assistance at (252) 433-9110 ext. 238 or tcozart@fgvsmartstart.org.
On behalf of children and families,
Tony W. Cozart, Ed.D.
Executive Director
