To the Editor:

The Haywood County Schools Foundation is a participant in “A Community Thrives” project sponsored by Gannett, USA today, and the Asheville Citizen-Times. In this project there are three categories of Wellness, Arts & Culture and Education. Haywood Schools Foundation entered the Education category. The three winners will receive $100,000 for first place with two $50,000 second- and third-place winners. We are competing with the nation: i.e., Charlotte, Atlanta and Chicago. To win we must have support of all our citizens. Please help us get their support and votes.

Submission was a three-minute video which gave a description of the project which had to be approved for entry. We chose the Citation Awards Program. The Haywood County Schools used it successfully last year and felt that it is a success story. Our video can be seen on line by following these directions:

Google “USA Today: A Community thrives — awarding grants to great ideas.”

Scroll down to submissions. “View all submissions.” You get to a page with Head line “Submit an Idea O Days until voting begins.” When the page comes up, scroll down about 50 rows of submissions. Give the computer time to call up the submissions. Look for Citation Awards for Education.

We are asking our supporters to help us pass the next step. The voting period began at 11:59 a.m. on April 12 and ends at 11:59 a.m. on May 12. Votes will be submitted at www.act.usatoday.comhttp://act.usatoday.com/submit-an-idea/ and by filling out the required information. You may vote one time each day for 30 days. You must be over 13 years of age. At the end of the voting period, up to ten (10) applications in each of the three (3) categories which have received the highest number of votes, will be the finalists and advance to the judging.

Everyone can help our idea to advance to the 10 applications in the education category by voting each day. Set your computer so that when you open it in the morning you can vote for that day. Do this for 30 days and we will be among the finalist if all of our supporters — students, teachers, parents, families, clubs, organizations, businesses, everyone votes. Do vote yourself, every day and remind everyone you meet, “Have you voted?”

Our children thank you.

Doris B. Hammett, MD

Waynesville