BY SARAH STEPHENS
ELMORE/AUTAUGA NEWS
The River Region United Way, which covers multiple counties including Autauga and Elmore, has joined with the Dolly Parton Imagination Library for a FREE book-gifting program for children up to age five. The goal is to enroll 10,000 children across the River Region.
If you are interested in enrolling your child, know this is a FREE program for children from birth to age five years, no matter the family’s income.
You can register online at https://imaginationlibrary.com/usa/affiliate/ALRIVERREGION/
You can also print out the forms listed within this article and mail in your registration.
The River Region United Way is located at 3121 ZELDA CT, MONTGOMERY AL 36106
For more information, Contact: Jannah Bailey
Phone: 3342647318
Email: jbailey@rruw.org
For more information about the River Region United Way, visit https://www.rruw.org/
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 to age five, no matter their family’s income.
After launching in 1995, the program grew quickly. First books were only distributed to children living in Sevier County, Tennessee where Dolly grew up. It became such a success that in 2000 a national replication effort was underway. By 2003, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library had mailed one million books. It would prove to be the first of many millions of books sent to children around the world.
Dolly’s home state of Tennessee pledged to pursue statewide coverage in 2004 and global expansion was on the horizon. After the United States, the program launched in Canada in 2006 followed by the United Kingdom in 2007, Australia in 2013 and the Republic of Ireland in 2019.
Awards & Achievements
Imagination Library Receives Best Practices award from the Library of Congress Literacy Awards
Library of Congress Literacy Awards
Together, Dolly Parton and her book gifting organization have received honors and awards for their dedication to enriching the lives of children everywhere.
The Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval, Best Practices award from the Library of Congress Literacy Awards and recognition in Reading Psychology are just a few among a long list of the prestigious acknowledgments the program has received.
In addition to the many awards the organization has received, several milestones have been celebrated throughout the years. With each goal achieved a new one takes its place, creating an ever-growing and expanding organizational culture, much like that of Dolly’s always-keep-dreaming mindset.
Program Milestones
In addition to the many awards the organization has received, several milestones have been celebrated throughout the years. With each goal achieved a new one takes its place, creating an ever-growing and expanding organizational culture, much like that of Dolly’s always-keep-dreaming mindset.
1995 – Through The Dollywood Foundation, Dolly Parton Founded And Launched Her Imagination Library In Sevier County, Tennessee
2000 –Imagination Library Began A National Replication Effort
2002 – Native American Communities Added
2004 –Imagination Library Goes Statewide In Tennessee
2005 – International Book Committee Formed
2006 –Imagination Library Opens In Canada
2007 –Imagination Library Expands To United Kingdom
2010 – Dolly Presents 25 Millionth Imagination Library Book
2011 – Audio And Braille Books Added
2013 – Dolly’s Imagination Library Expands To Australia
2015 – Dolly Parton License Plates Began Pre-sales In Tennessee
2016 –Imagination Library Begins Sending One Million Books A Month
2017 – Official Dolly Parton License Plate Available In Tennessee Benefiting Imagination Library
2018 – 100th Million Book Dedicated to the Library of Congress
2019 – Dolly’s Imagination Library Expands To The Republic Of Ireland
2020 – Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library Gifts its 150 millionth Book
2021 – The Library of Congress Awards the Imagination Library with the $150k David M. Rubenstein Prize
