United Way of Paulding County appreciates the grant from the Paulding County Area Foundation for $5,000 toward the Dolly Parton Imagination Library Program! Longtime supporters of the program and United Way, the Paulding County Area Foundation’s grant provides over 3,300 books! In 2021, the United Way of Paulding County has 620 children actively participating in the program and is set to give out over 7,400 books!
Since the inception of the Dolly Parton Imagination Library in Paulding County, United Way has helped over 1,000 Paulding County children receive 23,000+ free books. The concept of the Dolly Parton Imagination Library is to encourage reading and learning in the formative years of children, no matter their socioeconomic status. Any child, newborn up till their fifth birthday, who live in Paulding County, are eligible for the program. Simply register your child through the United Way of Paulding County, or online through the Dolly Parton Imagination Library at www.imaginationlibrary.com or www.ohioimaginationlibrary.org and your child will start receiving a free book every month!
Dolly Parton was inspired to start the program after watching her father struggle due to illiteracy. Once Dolly Parton learned the average dropout rate of her local community high school, she knew she needed to reach children at an early age by providing them a great foundation of literacy. What started as a program for her local community has now spread globally. Today, 150 million books are mailed out each month to 5 different countries. 150 million children are currently benefitting from this influential program.
In 2019, Ohio Governor Dewine decided to join Dolly’s efforts by launching Ohio Governor’s Imagination Library. The goal was to get every county participating in the program and by the end of 2020, Governor Dewine had reached his goal. So we encourage you, that you have any children under the age of 5, whether in our county or a neighboring county, that you register them. The earlier the better!
