Join us for our 25th anniversary celebration during the Voices for Children Luncheon!

Tuesday, December 5, 2023 | 12:00-1:30pm
All Saints Episcopal Church Sanctuary
525 Lake Concord Rd NE, Concord, NC 28025

Help us celebrate 25 years of ensuring child well-being in Cabarrus County.

The Anne Laukaitis Champion for Children Award is in honor of Anne’s distinguished Smart Start leadership and her long career dedicated to the service of young children and families in Cabarrus County. This award is given annually to an exceptional individual at the local level who is devoted to public service and whose leadership qualities have resulted in significant change for the betterment of young children, families, and communities.

Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is turning over a new chapter in The Imagination Library legacy - celebrating 200 million books gifted globally since inception in 1995. The early childhood book-gifting program mails a high-quality, free book each month to children from birth to age five and is now excited to celebrate with every child/family enrolled in the program and its Local Program Partners.

Waynett is the Executive Director and Inclusion Specialist with P.U.R.E. Excellence, as well as the Executive Director of Lockhart Child Development Center in Concord. She has also been recognized for her exceptional work in early childhood education as the Anne Laukaitis Champion for Children Award in December 2022.

Waynett leads, listens and advocates for the young child, their families as well as for the child care industry and early education in our county. She promotes and assists all centers in our county in being high quality learning environments for children and staff, she facilitates high standards in teacher preparation and advocates for a living wage for all who enter this field. She consults and provides support for all Cabarrus County child care directors and assists with children with challenging behaviors and other class management issues. She also provides training for all early childhood professionals.