United Way of Madison County announces new partnership with the Dollywood Foundation

The United Way of Madison County kicked off a new partnership with the Dollywood Foundation, as Gov. Kay Ivey announced an expansion of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library in Alabama.

Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is a book gifting program that mails free, high-quality books to children from birth to age five, no matter their family’s income. Here’s more info:

Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library + United Way of Madison County

After launching in 1995, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library distributed more than a million books by 2003. Dolly’s home state of Tennessee pledged to pursue statewide coverage in 2004 and global expansion was on the horizon.

After the United States, the program launched in Canada in 2006 followed by the United Kingdom in 2007, Australia in 2013 and the Republic of Ireland in 2019.

“The United Way of Madison County is honored to be a part of this incredible program, taking the lead in providing free books to families with young children throughout our community. Families who read together support early literary, emotional bonding, and school readiness. We encourage our community, both individuals and corporations, to invest as Literacy Champions/Core Business Partners (for $26 per child per year).”

Daniel Kasambira, president & CEO, United Way of Madison County

Alabama expands the Imagination Library

The Imagination Library of Alabama expansion will focus on finding community partners to start new Imagination Library programs to reach more children and families, increasing registration in existing Imagination Library programs in the state.

Currently, Alabama’s program has 55 operation local program partners covering portions of Alabama’s 67 counties. More than 40,000 eligible children in the state are currently receiving free, high- quality books through these programs.

“No matter what a child grows up to be, reading proficiently is simply critical. No doubt, learning to read begins at home. Parents are our first teachers, after all. It is really important that our parents start reading to our children when they’re just babies. And we must encourage our children to open books during their earliest developmental stages.”

Gov. Kay Ivey

As a statewide program, the goal is to establish local programs in all 67 counties, cultivating new partnerships to help fund and support local program partners. Local program partners and affiliates must be a 501c3, which includes businesses, school districts, libraries, local foundations and others.

To enroll in this program and learn more as it is expanded across the state, visit www.imaginationlibrary.com.

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