By Ann Cantrell
Staff Writer

    Ferst Foundation Inc. is offering the public an opportunity to dance the night away and, simultaneously, to provide books for children with their event, “Motown Madness.”
    Ferst Foundation is dedicated to providing children from birth to five years old with books in their household. From different donations and grants they strive to have children reading before they enter kindergarten. 
    “We hope that every household that has children will have books and that their parents, grandparents or siblings will read to them,” said Linda Sky, one of the organizers of the event with Ferst Foundation.
    Sky said that it is not only important that children learn to read early so that they are ready for kindergarten, but also so that they build bonds with their family members who teach them how to read.            Motown Madness is the primary fund-raiser for the organization in the area. It will be held at the James Madison Conference Center this Saturday from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m.
    The event will consist of three parts: a dance, silent auction and a raffle. Local deejay Darrel Hope will play Motown music during the dance. There will also be a cash bar with wine and beer as well as some food catered by local restaurants.
    The second part of the event will consist of a silent auction, where individuals can bid on items from oil changes to hair and face products from local merchants.
    They will be auctioning  Georgia Aquarium tickets, Thrashers tickets and tickets to the High Museum.
    There will also be a raffle at the event, at a cost of $35 to participants. All of the money from the tickets will be donated directly to Ferst Foundation for the purchase of books for children.
    One of the items to be raffled is an 18-carat gold bracelet valued at $1000, donated from Whidby Jewelers.
    Some of the restaurants  involved in the silent auction and raffle include Ye Olde Colonial Restaurant, Perk Avenue and Thelma’s Fine Dining.
    Sky said that event is usually very successful and brings in a wide variety of ages from 20 year olds to senior citizens. Tickets for the event cost $25 for couples and $15 for singles.