COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KKTV) – Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library for El Paso and Teller Counties needs a new administrator or else the program is coming to an end.
For more than a decade, Pikes Peak United Way has run the program.
Kids who are enrolled receive a free book in the mail once a month.
Together, El Paso and Teller counties have more than 9,000 kids signed up.
Marah Denton was sad to hear her kids may stop receiving books.
“I just had my second child,” said Denton.
The mother signed her three-year-old daughter up the second she was born.
“Her language is incredible for being three because we’ve gotten books from an early age,” Denton continued. “It’s to the point where she sleeps with her books.”
Denton did the same for her two-month-old son who just received his first book.
Under the program kids can get monthly books for the first five years of their life.
That may be cut short for the Denton family though.
Unless a person or group steps up to take over the program, it will be wrapping up at the end of 2026.
Pikes Peak United way announced in early August, before Dolly’s passing, it is parting ways with Imagination Library.
CEO, Cami Bremer, said the program doesn’t necessarily align with Pikes Peak United Way’s focus of serving those most in need.
“Everyone who wants to be a part of that mailing list is a part of that mailing list,” Bremer continued. “There’s no way to target and make sure books are getting into the hands who need it most.”
Bremer said her organization does plan to continue to invest in early reading.
“We need to do that in a focused way and that program no longer allows us to do that, but we continue to cheer on Imagination Library and Dolly Parton’s legacy,” said Bremer.
Denton hopes someone takes it over before it’s too late, saying her kids love their monthly mail surprise.
“It does truly make an impact on us as a family and being able to get new books and to keep reading books,” said Denton.
For Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library to continue run, it costs $250,000 a year.
The state pays for half, and the administrator is responsible for the rest.
Bremer said conversations are already happening at Pikes Peak United Way to find a new way to support reading for kids.
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