CAPITAL REGION, NY (WRGB) — This week marked the start of the back-to-school season for many kids across the Capital Region, but getting them excited to learn and read begins before they head to class. One way to do that is through the Dolly Parton Imagination Library, offered by the United Way of the Greater Capital Region (UWGCR).
Every child who signs up at an in-person event walks away with a book in hand, the first book being “The Little Engine That Could”.
All children from birth to age five who reside in any of the nine counties served by United Way of the Greater Capital Region (UWGCR) are eligible to enroll.
“It’s delivered to your doorstep every month by the Postal Service, from when you’re born, go to, you start kindergarten, and you have a library of 60 high-quality children’s books,” said Peter Gannon, CEO of United Way of the Greater Capital Region.
These counties include Albany, Columbia, Fulton, Greene, Montgomery, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Schenectady, and Schoharie.
At the heart of the program stands the mission of early childhood literacy and creating opportunities for children in the Capital Region to thrive so they are able to succeed in school and help their communities grow and prosper.
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“More likely to earn less money over their career, more likely to drop out of high school, not finish college, and have involvement with the criminal justice system,” said Gannon. “So developing this early love of literacy is, it’s great for kids and their education, but it’s also great for families. It’s a great thing for families to come together. I used to think it was just a way to calm my kids down before bed. I had no idea that I was getting them ready for kindergarten and putting them on a path to future success.”
Early reading develops critical cognitive and language skills, sparks creativity, and strengthens the bond between children and caregivers. Research shows that having books in the home is one of the best ways to encourage early literacy and academic success.
The Imagination Library makes it accessible to reach a large number of children and their families have access to books at a low cost.
This summer, UWGCR celebrated delivering 100,000 books since the program started. The program currently has over 12,000 active participants and is looking to enroll even more families this school year.