Sacramento County children from birth to age 5 now can receive one free book in the mail each month, regardless of family income, through Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, which launched in Sacramento today through a partnership between United Way California Capital Region, Sacramento County Office of Education (SCOE) and The Dollywood Foundation. Residents can sign up at: https://www.yourlocalunitedway.org/our-work/youth-opportunity/dolly-parton-imagination-library/.
United Way California Capital Region also manages Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library in Yolo County, which today presented its 100,000th book to a participating family.
“When we invest in a child’s imagination, we invest in their future,” said Dr. Dawnté Early, president and CEO, United Way California Capital Region. “Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is more than books. This program is about opening doors, sparking dreams and imagination, and making sure every child – no matter their zip code – has access to books from an early age.”
United Way and SCOE aim to enroll 65,000 children in Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library across the county – 65% of the population eligible – within five years.
“The Imagination Library is a simple idea with a powerful impact,” said David W. Gordon, Sacramento County superintendent of schools. “By mailing a free book each month to children from birth to age 5, we’re giving families the tools to build strong reading habits from the start. This program supports our Sacramento County READS literacy initiative and reflects our commitment to literacy, equity and early learning – because every child deserves the chance to thrive.”
The program has received funding from United Way California Capital Region, Sacramento County Office of Education, City of Rancho Cordova, City of Sacramento, Kellogg Family Foundation, Rotary Club of Elk Grove and Laguna Sunrise Rotary Club, and is seeking additional funders to meet their goal of serving all children in Sacramento County under age 5. To learn more about supporting the program, visit www.uwccr.org/dpilsupport.
Celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library began in Sevier County, Tenn., where Parton grew up, and has since expanded internationally. In California, the Imagination Library is also supported by a 50% state match, administered through the California State Library.
“We are thrilled to celebrate the launch of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library in Sacramento County, home to our state capital and nearly 100,000 little learners,” said Hallie Anderson, community engagement coordinator, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library of California. “This partnership with United Way California Capital Region and Sacramento County Office of Education is a powerful investment in early childhood literacy, bringing Dolly’s dream to life for many more children and inspiring a love of reading across the county.”
United Way California Capital Region has been a driving force across the region for more than 100 years, listening, responding and taking comprehensive action to meet local needs. From advancing youth opportunities and helping kids excel in school, to strengthening local communities and investing in families’ financial security and health, United Way mobilizes communities to build a future where everyone can reach their full potential and thrive. Working across Amador, El Dorado, Placer, Sacramento and Yolo counties, the local United Way provides books and literacy tutoring, addresses housing and food security, leads the region’s largest tax preparation initiative, works with foster youth across school districts, launched the region’s first guaranteed income program and leads the Community Schools initiative in West Sacramento. To make a donation: www.YourLocalUnitedWay.org.
The Sacramento County Office of Education plays a leadership role in the delivery of quality education to the students in Sacramento County, which is home to the California state capital comprising 1.4 million residents and seven cities. SCOE directly educates more than 30,000 children and adults each year – including thousands of district teachers who attend training sessions and workshops. It provides support services to more than 253,000 students in 13 school districts, four of which are some of the state’s largest. SCOE provides technical assistance, curriculum and instructional support, staff development, legal and financial advice, and oversight to Sacramento County school districts. Its programs and services are available to schools, districts and other county offices of education across the region. Considered a leader of the Capital Service Region – a 10-county area consisting of Alpine, Colusa, El Dorado, Nevada, Placer, Sacramento, Sierra, Sutter, Yolo and Yuba counties – SCOE is one of 58 county offices of education in California. SCOE staff work year-round providing services that complement and supplement those offered by public school districts in Sacramento County. For more information about SCOE’s Sacramento County READS literacy initiative: www.scoe.net/sacramentocountyreads.
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) nonprofit organization, has gifted more than 280 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 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 5 at no cost to families. Parton 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: https://imaginationlibrary.com/.