The Private Industry Council has been the grantee for Head Start of Fayette County for twelve years, and the grantee of Early Head Start of Fayette County for eight years. The programs serve a total of 771 children in the Fayette County area.

Each May the Head Start/Early Head Start programs sponsor "Literacy Night" at various Head Start centers throughout Fayette County. Literacy Nights provide an opportunity for enrolled families and children to socialize in an educational setting. Stories come alive, fun-filled learning activities are scheduled, and a healthy snack is provided. This year's Literacy Night theme is "Stone Soup", and focuses on healthy eating habits. Literacy Nights for this May include: May 4-at the Nemacolin and Masontown Centers; May 11-at the Connellsville and Mill Run Centers; May 18-at the Brownsville Center; and May 25-at the Vo-Tech and North Union Centers. During Literacy Night at North Union, Head Start will dedicate the "Steve Courson Activity Zone", a children's work-out center devoted to improving childhood fitness, in memory of the late Steve Courson who worked with Head Start of Fayette County as a Health and Wellness Consultant.

The Private Industry Council of Westmoreland/Fayette, Inc. (PIC), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, has been operating employment, education, and training programs in Westmoreland and Fayette Counties since 1983. From its inception, PIC has provided services to over 50,000 individuals, assisting youth, adults, dislocated workers, and the economically disadvantaged in attaining educational achievement, supporting their family growth, and obtaining and retaining employment. The organization works every day to achieve its mission to educate, encourage, and empower family and individual development and to create career enhancement opportunities through training and workforce development, which will perpetuate and improve the quality of life in southwestern Pennsylvania.

For more information on Head Start/Early Head Start of Fayette County or to RSVP for Literacy Night, please call Stephanie Cottom, Early Childhood Development Supervisor, at 724-430-4818, extension 104.