With a toss of the pink dice and a cry of "Bunco," holiday stress rolls away and another child goes to school ready to read and succeed. The Learning Center is hosting a Ladies' Night Bunco event at 6 p.m. on Nov. 14 at The Center for Planning and Preservation on Washington Street. No experience or skill is required; roll three dice, add your points to your partner's and move to the next table. Everyone wins a prize and there's no gambling, just a great opportunity to relax and network.

While players enjoy food and beverages, pamper-me services, and a chance to win a great prize, their $20 ticket donation will be helping Newton County's youngest learners. The Learning Center's mission is to provide parents and adult caregivers of children birth to age 5 with information and programs that stimulate the brain development and language acquisition necessary for children to be reading ready when they enroll in school.

The Learning Center provides books and programs to thousands of Newton County children every year and depends on community donations to reach as many families as possible.

"Especially in a tight economy, we must remember that helping our youngest generation learn to read is not a stopgap, but a long-term solution to our community's problems," said Mollie Melvin, executive director of The Learning Center. "Reading is the single most important skill that allows our children to succeed in school and to become adults who can support their families, make informed voting decisions and contribute to their community as taxpayers and citizens.

We can change the rate of poverty, homelessness, high school dropout, teen pregnancy, and crime by breaking the cycle of illiteracy. The way to do that is by reading, singing, and talking to our children as they are learning how to talk. The Learning Center gives parents and caregivers the tools to do just that."

New at this year's event will be a raffle for a custom made decorative gingerbread house, donated by A Bouquet by Betty. The houses are made totally of nonperishable materials that look exactly like the real candy and cookies used in gingerbread houses and can by displayed year after year.

Also, attendees will be able to get a jump on their holiday gift giving by making a donation through the "Not Another Mug!" program. Make a donation to The Learning Center in the name of your child to honor a favorite teacher, family member or coworker and receive a card that can be presented to the honoree.

To reserve a seat for Ladies' Bunco Night or for more information about The Learning Center's programs, e-mail www.leapintobooks.org or call (404) 314-2615.