Dolly Partons Imagination Library
In 1995, Dolly Parton launched an exciting new effort, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, to benefit the children of her home county in East Tennessee, USA. Dolly’s vision was to foster a love of reading among her county’s preschool children and their families. The new program gave each child a specially selected book each month. By mailing high quality, age appropriate books directly to their homes, Dolly wanted children to be excited about books and to feel the magic that books can create. Moreover, she could ensure that every child would have books, regardless of their family’s income
United Way of Lee Co. A Local Affiliate
The Imagination Library partners with Local Affiliates and Partners who help bring the program to cities, towns and communities around the world. Local Affiliates can be businesses, school districts, small or large organizations, or simply individuals who share in the mission and purpose of the Imagination Library.
Local Affiliates are responsible for enrolling children who live within the geographical area they offered the program in. They promote their local programs online and at events. While the Imagination Library negotiates wholesale pricing for the books, the Local Affiliates and Partners are responsible for securing funds to cover that cost. Books are 100% free to enrolled children because their Local Affiliate has secured funds to cover the cost of the books and the shipping fees.
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Investing in the Next Generation
United Way of Lee County understands the importance of youth development and recognizes that the foundation for a healthy life begins in childhood and within the caregiving unit with positive influences such as healthy home literacy environments. Because DPIL places no restrictions on child eligibility, it is a program that enables us to reach and impact every demographic to create these home literacy environments.
We acknowledge that the most resilient communities are those that employ collaborative approaches to nourishing the development and well-being of every individual. We are confident that an investment in Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is more than an investment in literacy; it is an investment in the next generation—one that will have a strong, principled foundation, a desire to compassionately serve one another, and bold hopes and dreams.
As Dolly says, “The seeds of these dreams are often found in books and the seeds you help plant in your community can grow across the world.” Enhancing the development of early childhood literacy skills in our Lee County children and encouraging their caregivers to assume an active role in their education will provide them with the skillset necessary to be successful lifelong learners and productive members of our community and the world beyond.
