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United Way begins Imagination Library project |
Do you recall a special book you had as a young child? Do you have fond memories of mom, dad, or a grandparent reading to you on their lap or at bedtime? Did these experiences give you a life-long love of reading and the tools to succeed in school?
This isn’t the case for all children. Many grow up with few or no books in the home. To give young children the gift of reading, Char-Em United Way has launched Dolly Parton's Imagination Library in Charlevoix and Emmet Counties.
Dolly Parton's Imagination Library brings books to children's homes. From birth until they turn five years old, children enrolled in the program will 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 readers.
“We are very excited to start this new program for kids in Charlevoix and Emmet Counties,” says Dee Vincent, Vice President of Char-Em United Way. “After conducting a feasibility study, the United Way board decided that focusing our efforts on early childhood education will provide the greatest return on our donors’ investment. The Imagination Library is just one component of our Education Initiative – United We Read – but probably the most exciting and fun component.”
“Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library improves early childhood literacy and kindergarten readiness. A child develops language skills long before being able to speak, literacy skills long before they are able to read. Reading books helps develop these skills. Through the Imagination Library, children can look forward to new and exciting reading adventures that will foster a love for reading and help them learn.”
Parents wishing to enroll their child can do so online at imaginationlibrary.com or at www.charemunitedway.org.
| Char-Em United Way will formally launch the Imagination Library Saturday August 18 at United Way’s Stuff the Bus events. Volunteers will be on hand from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the big yellow school busses at K-Mart in Charlevoix and Petoskey. They will provide information about Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library and enroll children. Children enrolling on that day will receive their welcome book, “The Little Engine that Could,” while supplies last. Eligible children must live in Charlevoix or Emmet Counties and be under 5 years of age. |
The program is absolutely free to all children, but United Way welcomes donations to help support the project. Rotary International is a key partner of the Imagination Library and the Charlevoix Rotary Club has provided a grant of $1,000 for the local program. United Way is seeking additional support from other service clubs, book clubs, and the general public.
“We plan to take the program “Beyond the Books” by offering a number of additional programs such as family literacy activities, mailings to parents, library programs, ‘graduation’ events, etc.,” continued Vincent. “Our project Advisory Committee includes members from Char-Em ISD, other schools, businesses, Libraries, Head Start, Great Start Collaborative, and parents. Even though we haven’t yet formally launched the project, we have nearly 150 kids enrolled.”
Other projects included in the United We Read initiative are the United Way Literacy Corps, Education Support project in East Jordan and Pellston schools, Stuff the Bus, and project funding for local pre-school programs. Information on all of these projects, copies of United Way’s Community Impact Report and Education Outcomes report, online registration for the Imagination Library, and the opportunity to join the Literacy Corps can be found at www.charemunitedway.org or by contacting us at 487-1006 or info@charemunitedway.org.
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