From United Way of Central Kansas...
Dolly Parton, renowned singer, songwriter, and philanthropist, visited the state of Kansas to mark the achievements of her Imagination Library program. The closed event, hosted by the Imagination Library of Kansas, took place on Monday, Aug. 14. This occasion celebrates the statewide success of providing free books to children from birth to age five, fostering early childhood literacy and development.
Thanks to increased funding from the Kansas Children’s Cabinet and Trust Fund, as well as the Kansas Legislature, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is now able to extend its reach to every child in Kansas. This initiative ensures that young minds across the state have access to high-quality, age-appropriate books each month, supporting their social-emotional, physical, and cognitive growth.
Pratt, a pioneering community in Kansas, holds the distinction of launching the first Imagination Library site outside of Tennessee in 2005. Over the years, Kansas has embraced this program with enthusiasm, enrolling more than 52,200 children and gifting an impressive 3.8 million books since its inception.
Governor Laura Kelly expressed her delight, stating, “We have reached an incredible milestone by providing the gift of reading to children and families across Kansas. The first five years of a child’s life are crucial for their development and literacy. By expanding access to the Imagination Library, we are nurturing a lifelong love for reading and supporting the well-rounded growth of our children. I encourage all eligible Kansas families to enroll their children in the Imagination Library of Kansas.”
United Way of Central Kansas Directors, both past and present, gathered to celebrate this event. Their presence underscores the collaborative efforts that have contributed to the program’s success and reflects the commitment of United Way to promoting early childhood education and literacy.
Dolly Parton’s inspiration for the Imagination Library program stems from her father’s struggles with literacy. In 1995, she founded the program, which has since grown to deliver over 2 million high-quality books to children’s homes each month. Each enrolled child receives a new book every month until their fifth birthday, at no cost to families.