Dolly Parton's Imagination Library Lives on Through You

If you would like to honor Dolly's work and legacy by supporting the Imagination Library in Shawnee County, simply click this link to make a donation online.

Along with the world, we at United Way of Kaw Valley were saddened to hear that one of our philanthropic heroes died this week. Dolly Parton simply was one of the most generous and loving humans this world will ever know. Our bond with Dolly was forged from the mutual understanding that successful kids are kids with books. That the love of reading is something all children deserve, whether their families are rich or poor, white or blue collar, or live in the Tennessee mountains or an apartment in the city. She is instantly recognizable as an international champion for early literacy as the heart and soul of Dolly Parton's Imagination Library. We'll let some of the official statements tell the story. Then keep reading if you'd like to follow Dolly's example.

From the Imagination Library:

Our team, our local program partners, and every operational partner who helps make this program possible each month are heartbroken at the loss of our founder, Dolly Parton. She was always proud that her little program grew into what it is today. She was proudest of what it meant to her Dad. In her own words: "My Daddy told me the Imagination Library was probably the most important thing I had ever done."

The world grieves with us today. And yet we find ourselves just as certain about what comes next.For decades, Dolly and the team at The Dollywood Foundation — home of Dolly Parton's Imagination Library — worked to build something that would last for generations. So it will. The work ahead has never felt more meaningful, and we will carry it forward as she lifts us all up.

Dolly, we will always love you.

From United Way Worldwide:

The United Way family is devastated by the news of Dolly Parton’s passing. Dolly was a superstar in every sense of the word—on the stage, screen, and the airwaves. But the only thing larger than her voice was her deeply generous spirit, which she used to bring people together all around the world.
For more than 15 years, United Way has proudly partnered with Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library to provide children with books and foster a love of learning. Through this work, we saw firsthand, Dolly’s deep belief that every child – no matter the circumstances – deserves the opportunity to learn, dream, and thrive. Today, the inspirational program spans five countries, and has provided more than 300 million books to children around the world.
United Way will be forever grateful for Dolly’s partnership, friendship, and shared belief in making the world a better place. The world will miss Dolly. But her larger-than-life legacy will live on every time her irresistible voice comes on the radio, every time we see her bright smile flash across our screens, and every time a child picks up an Imagination Library book.
On behalf of the entire United Way network, we extend our deepest condolences to Dolly’s family, friends, and the millions of people she touched. We are profoundly grateful for her partnership and friendship and the United Way family will be honored to help carry forward the spirit of generosity she embodied.

Since 2017, United Way of Kaw Valley (and formerly as United Way of Greater Topeka) has partnered with the Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library to support the Imagination Library in Shawnee County. Right now, 5,407 Shawnee County children find a new book in their mailbox every single month (that's almost 65,000 books added to our county every year!). Since we rebooted the program in 2017, nearly 12,000 Shawnee County children have graduated from the program on their fifth birthday.

The Imagination Library is everywhere this week--on the news, the radio and social media. We heard from the Imagination Library team this week that they are having to add computer servers to handle a flood of enrollment requests from all over. Just this week, we have received 53 new enrollment requests! And we are thrilled that more parents (and grandparents) are discovering a program that will expand their youngster's mind and heart.

What you may not know is that while the Imagination Library pays for the books, local partners must agree to cover the postage that brings the books to local children. Right now, that cost hovers around $32 per child per year. With 5,407 children currently enrolled in Shawnee County, that means our local program needs more than $170,000 a year. (Currently we do receive a 50% match from the State of Kansas that helps reduce the amount we contribute, but we always look at funds like that as a gift but not a guarantee.) To serve all eligible children in Shawnee County, we continue to ask for your support.

Books from the Imagination Library are high-quality and vetted by experts to be age-appropriate. All new enrollees start with a copy of The Little Engine that Could. The final book and a letter from Dolly arrive for their fifth birthday, coinciding with the kindergarten enrollment for many. In Shawnee County, United Way continues to support reading at the Pre-K and kindergarten levels through our Junior Leader Reader program. Both of these programs are cost-effective ways to increase childhood success through books and help reinforce our community's culture of learning and literacy.

If you would like to honor Dolly's work and legacy by supporting the Imagination Library in Shawnee County, simply click this link to make a donation online.
You can also mail or hand-deliver a donation to our Topeka office at 1527 SW Fairlawn Rd., Topeka, KS 66604. Just $32 will pay for a year of books for one child. A gift of $160 covers that child's entire 5-year enrollment with the Imagination Library, resulting in their own personal collection of 60 books. For those of you who also donate through a UWKV workplace campaign, you can designate part of your pledge to the Imagination Library program in your county through that county's local partner.

And if your family has enjoyed reading together thanks to Dolly, we'd love to share your story. Tag us in a social media post (@uwkawvalley) or send your story/photo to us by email.

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