Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is returning to Springfield for its ninth consecutive year. The United Way of Clark, Champaign, and Madison Counties partners with Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, and Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library of Ohio, to facilitate the program in the three-county area.
Initially introduced to the region in 2017, the program encourages early stages of reading and storytelling which ignites a lifetime of opportunity and development. Parents and guardians of these young minds can register their children to receive a free book every month until their fifth birthday.
In total, the three counties are able to provide about 70,000 books for families and children to read and work with. Kerry Pedraza, Executive Director of The United Way for the tri-county area explains that they knew they were on to something when over 60 women showed up to the very first meeting regarding the Imagination Library.
“Who can say ‘no’ to putting books in the hands of children?" she asks.
"it’s a simple concept. Every child gets a book based on their age. You can have multiple people in the household receiving one, as it is based on their birthdate. Our dream is to have every child who is born at Springfield Regional Medical Center enrolled before they even go home. It takes about 6 weeks to get the first book, which is always Watty Piper’s
The Little Engine That Could, as it was Dolly Parton’s dad’s favorite book, but after that there is a fresh selection of books every year,” explains Pedraza.
She goes on to touch on some of the primary inquiries which people might respond to the program saying for example: 'every child could just go to the library, why should I want to support this?'
To which Pedraza responds, “Every child should go to the library, but that doesn’t always happen for a multitude of reasons. But what we do know is that evidence shows that the more print-rich a home is, the more academically engaged and successful a child is. Especially in school. As important as this is as a literary, and kindergarten-readiness tool, it's also an incredible socio-emotional tool. There’s nothing better than seeing the esteem a kiddo gets from receiving a book that is their own in the mail.”
Pedraza explains that the local libraries are some of the biggest promoters of the initiative as she says, “They Know the power of having books in the home.”
The second hesitation people tend to have, centers around subscribers not having the literacy to enjoy the books themselves.
“While this may be a true statement," Pedraza confesses, she asks, "why would we not want to get them one step closer?"
We even tell people all the time to make up their own stories. We have feedback that shows parents feeling more inclined to go get the tutoring they might need to learn to read themselves. To get them just to go to the Clark County Literacy Center. There has to be an affiliate in the family, or a community that’s willing to take the responsibility on, and partner with the Imaginations Library.”
Pedraza adds that many of her own family in town are also subscribed.
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is now an international foundation. The mission is to maintain affordability. The conglomerate also works with publishers to provide discounted rates. The Dolly Parton Imagination Library of Ohio pays for half of the books sourced. Nonetheless, The United Way’s first event of the year, Nash Bash, sees that the other half are supported financially as well.
Scheduled for February 7th, from 5pm until 9pm, this fundraiser will bring a bit of Dolly’s Nashville to the Hollenbeck Bayley Creative Arts and Conference Center, though the music legend herself will not be in attendance. A committee of 20 individuals work to make a more upscale evening of fundraising, “with a twist.”
Lori Fulk, volunteer coordinator for Nash Bash explains; “People are typically at the door before the event kicks off, which goes to show how excited people have to be there. A percentage of the registration ticket goes straight to sponsorship for a child’s involvement in the program. We line part of the room with silent auction items, and the other part of the room will have a table of about 8 quality live auction items. We have also provided a ‘giving tree’ inspired by Shel Silverstein’s
The Giving Tree which allows people to attach a donation of any sum to one of the branches. There will be nationally-inspired foods, charcuterie, delicious desserts, and two signature drinks, one appropriately named the ‘bookworm.’ We have a bourbon pull, and we’re going to infuse a bit of karaoke and there will be a D.J. We’ve made it a point to provide a source of education at Nash Bash, in the graphics on the projectors surrounding the room, and the women running the giving tree are there to spread information as well. It's been a labor of love and grows every year.”
The United Way of Clark County has been doing integrated philanthropy work in the area since 1918. Their vision to “...nurture a safe, healthy, caring community that builds on the strengths of its citizens, its neighbors, its businesses and its human services delivery systems” speaks volumes on how focused this community is to support one another. Clark State College is the premier sponsor for Nash Bash, the junction of which foresees that the future scholars of the region are academically prepared. Additionally; Patrick and Tiffany Field, Merchants National Bank, and Becky Skiles Gorby of Edward Jones Financial Advising offer additional support. The event seeks to maintain a collection of about $40,000 by the end of the evening.
Registration for the fast-approaching occasion is running slim, to do so, or to learn more about the Imagination Library, go to
this website, or ImaginationLibrary.com.