[SOLVED] only need the first character

[DrTrans]

 $ownerfname 	= strtolower($row['First']); 

 

now for example $ownerfname = "john"  i only need the "j"

 

can u please help. this has got to be simple.. i tried split(); but didnt work.

 

 

then i need it to join so it makes $firstinital and $ownerlname =  $newvariable = jsmith