Celebrating Dolly Parton Imagination Library Graduates and Continuing a Legacy of Reading
United Way of Reno County is proud to recognize a special group of young readers who have recently "graduated" from the Imagination Library program upon reaching their fifth birthday.
Each graduate receives a certificate celebrating their participation in the program and the exciting milestone of beginning kindergarten. Through the Dolly Parton Imagination Library, children receive a free, age-appropriate book in the mail every month from birth until age five-helping to build a love of reading and prepare them for success in school.
Founded by country music icon Dolly Parton, the Imagination Library has provided millions of books to children around the world. Following Dolly’s passing, her legacy of inspiring a love of reading in children will continue through the program she created. Dolly had plans in place through her foundation to ensure the Imagination Library would carry on, allowing more children and families to benefit from the joy and lifelong value of reading.
The Imagination Library is not going away in Reno County!
United Way of Reno County remains committed to continuing this important early literacy program. Ongoing annual donations and designated endowed funds have been established to help ensure continued financial support for the program and the children it serves. Thanks to the generosity of this community, the program will continue to be available to eligible Reno County families at no cost.
Recent research shows that children who are regularly read to at early ages enter school with stronger language skills, larger vocabularies, and greater readiness to learn. By placing books directly into homes each month, the Imagination Library helps parents and caregivers create meaningful reading experiences that support early childhood development.
As UWRC celebrates this year's Imagination Library graduates, we also celebrate the lasting legacy of Dolly Parton and her vision of making books accessible to every child. We congratulate our graduates as they begin their educational journeys and look forward to helping many more young readers discover the magic of books in the years ahead.