United Way of the Greater Capital Region and Schenectady County Public Library Launch Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library
As the local Program Partner, UWGCR has already enrolled more than 5,000 local children in the program, which distributes free, high-quality books each month
September 16, 2024 | Schenectady, NY – On Monday, United Way of the Greater Capital Region (UWGCR) hosted a successful launch event to promote Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, an initiative aimed at inspiring a love of reading among local children. The event, co-hosted by the Schenectady County Public Library, took place during the library’s weekly Music and Movement Class for children ages five and under.
The flagship program of the Dollywood Foundation, the Imagination Library, mails free, high-quality books each month to children from birth to age five, regardless of their family’s income. Since its inception in 1995, the program has delivered more than 240 million books to children around the world and is now the largest early childhood book gifting program of its kind.
UWGCR is proud to serve as the local Program Partner, bringing this transformative literacy initiative to children throughout the Capital Region. With over 5,000 local kids already enrolled, the Imagination Library is one of the pillars of UWGCR’s new early childhood literacy initiative. Through its Focused Investments, Family Neighborhood Resource Centers, and leadership in the Summer Meals Collaborative, UWGCR has a long-standing commitment to supporting community-based organizations that prioritize early childhood education.
The need for this program is significant. According to the latest data from United For ALICE, across the Capital Region, 54,826 families live below the Federal Poverty Level and another 127,963 are ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed). ALICE families work but still struggle to afford basic necessities like housing, food, healthcare, childcare, and educational resources such as books. In Schenectady County alone, 40% of households live below the ALICE threshold.
“We know that literacy and a love of reading is one of the keys to unlocking a child’s full potential,” said UWGCR President & CEO, Peter Gannon. “Unfortunately, with 41% of local families living below the ALICE threshold and struggling to make ends meet, we know the cost of high-quality books is out of reach to many families. Thanks to the generosity of our donors and sponsors, UWGCR is proud to bring the Imagination Library to thousands of children who call the Greater Capital Region home.”
Since the first round of books were mailed out in July, 10,870 books have been delivered to Capital Region children. In Schenectady County alone, 1,672 books have been sent to eager young readers, with the next round of deliveries scheduled for early October.
Prior to Monday morning’s class at the library, UWGCR and library staff distributed free welcome books and signed children up for the Imagination Library program.
“We’re grateful to the United Way for launching this program to get more books into the hands of our kids,” said Schenectady County Legislator Haileab Samuel, Chair of the Education & Libraries Committee. “Reading in the early years is so important, and this program makes it easier for families to introduce new books and foster a love of reading in their children.”
Similar launch events are scheduled in each of the nine counties served by United Way of the Greater Capital Region. The organization remains committed to ensuring that every child, no matter their family’s income, has access to books that will spark their imagination and support their literacy journey.
For more information on how to enroll in the Imagination Library or support this initiative, please visit unitedwaygcr.org/dpil.
About Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library
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) non-profit organization, has gifted over 200 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 Program Partners. The Imagination Library mails more than 2 million high-quality, age-appropriate books each month to enrolled children from birth to age five. Dolly envisioned creating a lifelong love of reading and inspiring children to Dream More, Learn More, Care More, and Be More®.
The program has been widely researched and results demonstrate the positive impact on early childhood development and literacy skills. Penguin Random House is the exclusive publisher for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.
For more information, please visit imaginationlibrary.com.
About United Way of the Greater Capital Region
Serving Albany, Columbia, Fulton, Greene, Montgomery, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Schenectady, and Schoharie counties. United Way mobilizes communities to action so all can thrive.
True to our founding spirit, whenever there is a need in our communities, United Way is there. We bring a comprehensive approach to every challenge, actively listening and responding to local needs. Our reach across tens of thousands of communities means we can share innovations and scale impact to improve lives around the world.
From strengthening local resilience to advancing health, youth opportunity, and financial security, we’re working towards a future where every person in every community can reach their full potential.
For more information, please visit unitedwaygcr.org