United Way of Southwest Michigan launches campaign to support Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library during National Reading Month in March

United Way has already received large lead gifts that bring us almost halfway to our goal. Contributions of all amounts from the community will get the campaign the rest of the way!

March is National Reading Month, and United Way of Southwest Michigan is launching a fundraising campaign in March 2025 to bolster Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library in Berrien, Cass, and Van Buren counties.

UWSM is currently implementing strategies to sustain this popular program for not only the children currently enrolled, but to begin enrollment for new children. Enrollment has been on hold for several years due to a gap in funding. With your help, we can make a major impact on reading levels in our area!

Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library provides books free of charge to all children under the age of 5 and their families, regardless of income. However, the cost for United Way to provide this program is close to $35 per child per year. Currently, nearly 5,300 children are enrolled in the program in Berrien, Cass, and Van Buren counties.

To sustain our current enrollment in the program, United Way of Southwest Michigan needs approximately $185,000 annually. To begin allowing new enrollees, the program needs at least $250,000 annually. While several local foundations, sponsorships and grants have been secured for this program, there is still a gap in funding.

UWSM is seeking financial contributions, large and small, from donors throughout Berrien, Cass, and Van Buren counties.

“Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library has been one of United Way’s most beloved programs in our community for years. United Way is confident that its many supporters—including those individuals and families who have benefited from it—will rally behind this fundraising effort and contribute to ensure this program will continue to serve as many children and families in Southwest Michigan as possible.”
—
Anna Murphy, President & CEO of United Way of Southwest Michigan.

Why Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is important to Southwest Michigan

  • According to the Michigan Department of Education, 56% of third graders in Berrien, Cass, and Van Buren Counties are not meeting reading proficiency.

  • 75% of children who are poor readers in third grade will be poor readers in high school. Many of these children will struggle or eventually drop out of school.

  • In order for children to possess the proper reading skills in third grade, efforts at developing literacy abilities need to begin much sooner. Research shows that the learning environment at home, even from the very birth of a child, has tremendous impact on the short-term and long-term reading capability of a child.

  • Children develop much of their capacity to learn in the first three years of life, when their brains grow to 90% of their eventual adult weight.

  • Studies show that when children enter school with age-appropriate language and literacy skills, they are more likely to read at or above grade level by third grade. They are also better prepared to succeed in later grades.

  • Immersing a child in a literacy-rich environment from birth can be a stronger predictor of literacy and academic achievement than family income.

This program is sponsored by…

Great Start Collaborative of Berrien County (Berrien RESA)
Heritage Southwest Intermediate School District (Cass County)
Van Buren Intermediate School District
Midwest Energy & Communications
Michigan Gateway Community Foundation
A Gift from Sally Esman (via Kalamazoo Community Foundation)
The Pokagon Fund
The McLoughlin Family Foundation
Jerry & Terry French
The Wood Foundation
The Leighton Foundation
The Edward & Irma Hunter Foundation
The De Groot Family Foundation
Frederick S. Upton Foundation