Paw Paw Area Rotary Club and United Way of Southwest Michigan to expand Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library
More kids under the age of five living in Van Buren County will get a jump-start on school-readiness with books mailed each month to their homes.
After bringing Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library to more than 300 preschool children in the Paw Paw Public School District in 2018, the Paw Paw Area Rotary Club has now partnered with United Way of Southwest Michigan to expand this program beyond the school district to children throughout all of Van Buren County.
“Two years ago, Paw Paw Rotarians began enrolling children in Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, with the vision of encouraging other towns to support the program in their communities. This year, a generous donation from one individual, Leslie Ward, who was raised in Hartford, provided seed money to start the program in Hartford, and I’m excited that United Way of Southwest Michigan is going to continue our efforts," said Sue Danielson of the Paw Paw Area Rotary Club.
Dolly Parton's Imagination Library brings books into children's homes. From birth until they turn five years old, children enrolled in the program receive a new, age-appropriate book mailed to their home each month. By the time they enter kindergarten, children will have their own library of books and be more prepared to enter school and become lifelong readers.
“We applaud Paw Paw Area Rotary Club for having the vision to start this important program in the area to instill a love of reading in kids at an early age and increase the chances of later success in school,” said Anna Murphy, President of United Way of Southwest Michigan.
United Way of Southwest Michigan already offers Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library to children residing in Berrien and Cass Counties, providing this program free of charge to the children enrolled, regardless of financial need. The actual cost to provide this program to the community is $25 per year per child. These costs are covered by United Way with additional support from grants and sponsorships, including from The Pokagon Fund, The McLoughlin Family Foundation, Lyons Industries, The Wood Foundation, Michigan Gateway Community Foundation, The De Groot Family Foundation, St. Joseph-Benton Harbor Rotary Club Foundation, and The Frederick S. Upton Foundation.
To learn more, sponsor a child, or register a child, visit https://www.uwsm.org/dpil.
ABOUT DOLLY PARTON’S IMAGINATION LIBRARY
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is a book-gifting program that mails free, high-quality books to children from birth until they begin school, no matter their family’s income. In 1995, singer Dolly Parton launched this organization to foster a love of reading among preschool children and their families. The purchasing and mailing of books through the program is coordinated through the Dollywood Foundation in Sevier, Tennessee.
ABOUT ROTARY
Rotary International is an international service organization whose stated purpose is to bring together business and professional leaders in order to provide humanitarian service and to advance goodwill and peace around the world. There are more than 35,000 member clubs worldwide, including 1.2 million members, known as Rotarians, who believe we have a shared responsibility to take action on our world’s most persistent issues, including supporting education and growing local economies.
ABOUT UNITED WAY
United Way of Southwest Michigan fights for the Health, Education, and Financial Stability of every person in every community. We have the influence and relationships to make sustainable change a reality. By harnessing resources from corporate, nonprofit, and public partners, we provide immediate assistance to our most vulnerable populations while addressing the root causes of our community's longstanding challenges and changing lives for the better. To join the fight—through giving, advocacy, and volunteering—visit www.uwsm.org.