News and Articles
02/03/2015
Community Invited to attend the Dolly Parton Imagination Library kick-off event on Thursday, Feb. 5
Join us to officially launch the Dolly Parton Imagination Library on Thursday, Feb. 5 from 3:30 p.m to 5 p.m. at the United Way of Santa Fe County Early Learning Center at Aspen Community Magnet School (430 La Madera Street). Families and children who attend the kick-off event will be encouraged to register for the Dolly Parton Imagination Library.
The Dolly Parton Imagination Library program was founded by Dolly Parton in 1995 to increase reading among young children. The program provides a carefully selected book that arrives in the mailbox, each month from the day the child is born until he/she is 5 years old. Books are selected by a national panel of experts.
The Santa Fe County Community Services Department released $50,000 to partner with the United Way of Santa Fe County to bring the Dolly Parton Imagination Library to the children and families of Santa Fe County. The United Way will serve as the “local champion” to assist the County in registering and enrolling children and publicizing the program. The United Way expects to enroll 525 children countywide in 2015.
“Less than half of the 13,000 students in Santa Fe school district read at grade level,” states Rachel O’Connor, Santa Fe County Community Services Department Director. “We are pleased to be partnering with United Way of Santa Fe County and Imagination Library to see if we can help increase reading scores amongst our young children.”
“We are looking forward to working in our community to enroll children across the county,” said Katherine Freeman, CEO of United Way of Santa Fe County. Freeman continued, “It is a natural fit with our early childhood and home visiting programs.”
For enrollment in the Imagination Library, please call 505-216-2984.