Dr. Dawnté Early of United Way California Capital
Region announces the launch of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library in Sacramento
County at an Aug. 27 press conference at the Sacramento Central Public
Library. Courtesy photo

SACRAMENTO, CA (MPG) – Sacramento County children from
birth to age 5 can now receive one free book in the mail each month, regardless
of family income, through Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.

Since starting in 1995, Dolly Parton’s Imagination
Library has become the preeminent early childhood book-gifting international program.
The flagship program of The Dollywood Foundation, a nonprofit organization, has
gifted more than 280-million free books in the United States, Canada, United
Kingdom, Australia and The Republic of Ireland through funding shared by The
Dollywood Foundation and local partners.

The Imagination Library mails more than 3 million
high-quality, age-appropriate books directly to children’s homes each month.
Each child enrolled in the program receives one book per month for children up
to age 5 at no cost to families.

Grammy-winning singer, songwriter, actress, author and
businesswoman Parton envisioned creating a lifelong love of reading and
inspiring children to dream more, learn more, care more and be more. The
program’s impact has been widely researched and results demonstrate its
positive impact on early childhood development and literacy skills.

Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library launched Aug. 27 in
Sacramento through a partnership between United Way California Capital Region,
Sacramento County Office of Education (SCOE) and The Dollywood Foundation.

Sacramento residents can sign up online at yourlocalunitedway.org/our-work/youth-opportunity/dolly-parton-imagination-library
to receive the books. 

United Way California Capital Region also manages
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library in Yolo County, which on Aug. 27 presented
its 100,000th book to a participating family. 

“When we invest in a child’s imagination, we
invest in their future,” said Dr. Dawnté Early, president and CEO, United
Way California Capital Region. “Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is more
than books. This program is about opening doors, sparking dreams and
imagination, and making sure every child, no matter their zip code, has access
to books from an early age.” 

United Way and the Sacramento County Office of
Education aim to enroll 65,000 children in Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library
across the county, 65% of the population eligible, within five years. 

“The Imagination Library is a simple idea with a
powerful impact,” said David W. Gordon, Sacramento County superintendent
of schools. “By mailing a free book each month to children from birth to
age 5, we’re giving families the tools to build strong reading habits from the
start. This program supports our Sacramento County READS literacy initiative
and reflects our commitment to literacy, equity and early learning because
every child deserves the chance to thrive.”

The program has received funding from United Way
California Capital Region, Sacramento County Office of Education, City of
Rancho Cordova, City of Sacramento, Kellogg Family Foundation, Rotary Club of
Elk Grove and Laguna Sunrise Rotary Club, and is seeking additional funders to
meet their goal of serving all children in Sacramento County under age 5. To
learn more about supporting the program, visit www.uwccr.org/dpilsupport. 

Celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, Dolly
Parton’s Imagination Library began in Sevier County, Tenn. where Parton grew
up, and the library has expanded internationally.

In California, the Imagination Library is also
supported by a 50% state match, administered through the California State
Library.

“We are thrilled to celebrate the launch of Dolly
Parton’s Imagination Library in Sacramento County, home to our state capital
and nearly 100,000 little learners,” said Hallie Anderson, community
engagement coordinator for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library of California.
“This partnership with United Way California Capital Region and Sacramento
County Office of Education is a powerful investment in early childhood
literacy, bringing Dolly’s dream to life for many more children and inspiring a
love of reading across the county.”

United Way California Capital Region has been a
driving force across the region for more than 100 years, listening, responding
and taking comprehensive action to meet local needs. From advancing youth
opportunities and helping children excel in school to strengthening local
communities and investing in families’ financial security and health, United
Way mobilizes communities to build a future where everyone can reach their full
potential and thrive. Working across Amador, El Dorado, Placer, Sacramento and
Yolo counties, the local United Way provides books and literacy tutoring,
addresses housing and food security, leads the region’s largest tax-preparation
initiative, works with foster youth across school districts, launched the
region’s first guaranteed income program and leads the Community Schools
initiative in West Sacramento. To donate, go online to YourLocalUnitedWay.org. 

The Sacramento County Office of Education educates
more than 30,000 children and adults each year, including thousands of district
teachers who attend training sessions and workshops. It provides support
services to more than 253,000 students in 13 school districts. The Sacramento
County Office of Education provides technical assistance, curriculum and
instructional support, staff development, legal and financial advice, and
oversight to Sacramento County school districts.

Sacramento County Office of Education programs and
services are available to schools, districts and other county offices of
education across the region. Considered a leader of the Capital Service Region,
a 10-county area consisting of Alpine, Colusa, El Dorado, Nevada, Placer,
Sacramento, Sierra, Sutter, Yolo and Yuba counties; it is one of 58 county
offices of education in California. Sacramento County Office of Education staff
provide year-round services that complement and supplement those offered by public
school districts in Sacramento County. For more information about the
Sacramento County Office of Education ‘s Sacramento County READS literacy
initiative, visit online www.scoe.net/sacramentocountyreads. 

Penguin Random House is the exclusive publisher of
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. For more information, go online to https://imaginationlibrary.com.