United Way of South Central Indiana launches Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library in Greene and Owen Counties

United Way of South Central Indiana announces the launch of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library in Greene and Owen counties.

Each child registered with the Imagination Library will receive a free, new age-appropriate book mailed directly to their home each month, until their fifth birthday.

The initiative aims to inspire a lifelong love for reading and learning in children and provide them with the tools they need to succeed. The Imagination Library is a renowned early literacy program that makes it possible for every child to access high-quality books regardless of family income.

“United Way is thrilled to bring Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library to both Owen and Greene counties,” shared Randy Rogers, United Way of South Central Indiana President and CEO. “We appreciate that the community foundations in Greene and Owen counties stepped in to provide grant funding to launch this program. We look forward to ensuring that children grow up with books in their home which will help our entire region thrive.”

United Way of South Central Indiana supports and creates community-based and community-led solutions to help local families move from poverty to possibility.

In Greene County, the program is funded in part by the Greene County Foundation. In Owen County, the program is funded in part by a Community Investment Grant Fund of the Owen County Community Foundation.

A parent or guardian can register their children online at www.unitedwaysci.org/dolly to receive books. Children will receive their first book approximately 8-12 weeks after they are enrolled.

A launch event will be held at the Owen County Public Library (10 S Montgomery St, Spencer, Ind.) on Thursday, August 22, from 10 – 11 a.m. during Storytime. Organizers will be reading stories aloud from the Imagination Library, handing out free children’s books and offering photo-ops with a life-sized Dolly cut-out. A launch event in Greene County will be held in the fall.

The program encourages caregivers to read with their children, strengthening bonds and giving kids a boost toward a successful education. Research shows a child’s ability to read by the end of third grade is an important predictor of future success. Children who reach this critical milestone are more likely to graduate high school and have higher earnings as adults.

Additionally, research indicates every $1 a community invests in early childhood education yields a 13% return on investment per child annually through better education, economic, health and social outcomes.

Community members and businesses who would like to sponsor books for children in the program may do so at www.unitedwaysci.org/dolly.

United Way of South Central Indiana also hosts Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library in Lawrence and Orange counties. The program is hosted in Monroe County through Monroe Smart Start.

The Imagination Library, inspired by the vision of country music icon Dolly Parton, has reached millions of children worldwide and made a lasting impact on early childhood literacy. Dolly Parton was inspired to start her Imagination Library in 1995, due to her own father’s inability to read and write.

Learn more about the program, register children or donate at www.unitedwaysci.org/dolly.

• About United Way of South Central Indiana: United Way of South Central Indiana is a nonprofit organization that improves the lives and futures of all people in the community. We bring together expertise, funding, and volunteer support to positively impact the resilience of our community, and those who live within it. In partnership with others, we work to eliminate inequities experienced by low-income and diverse populations so that all people have a safe, healthy home environment, achieve their educational potential, and increase their financial stability. We commit to building bridges across cultural, racial, religious, and economic boundaries. More information is available at www.unitedwaysci.org.

• About the Greene County Foundation: The Greene County Foundation exists for charitable individuals to leave a lasting legacy to the community they love. Through the establishment of endowments, donors can forever support the local causes important to them. The Greene County Foundation has had a charitable impact in every school, library, and community in Greene County. The Foundation annually awards over a quarter-million dollars in grants through fund payouts, competitive grants, and student scholarships. For more information, visit greenecountyfoundation.org or call (812) 659-3142.

• About the Owen County Community Foundation: The Owen County Community Foundation (OCCF) is a public charity founded in 1994 as a resource to connect caring individuals with causes they support, enabling them to make a charitable impact on the community. Since its founding, the OCCF has been able to grant more than $10.5 million to local nonprofit and charitable organizations in our community. The OCCF is committed to enhancing the quality of life for all citizens of Owen County, now and for generations to come. For more information, visit owencounty.org or call (812) 829-1725.

• About Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library: Since launching in 1995, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library has become the preeminent early childhood book-gifting program in the world. The flagship program of The Dollywood Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, has gifted over 250 million free books in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, and The Republic of Ireland. This is achieved through funding shared by The Dollywood Foundation and Local Community and State Partners. The Imagination Library mails more than 3 million high-quality, age-appropriate books directly to children’s homes each month. Each child enrolled in the program receives one book per month from birth to age five - at no cost to families. Dolly envisioned creating a lifelong love of reading and inspiring children to Dream More, Learn More, Care More and Be More.

The program’s impact has been widely researched, and results demonstrate its positive impact on early childhood development and literacy skills. Penguin Random House is the exclusive publisher of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. For more information, please visit imaginationlibrary.com.