Coshocton celebrates Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library milestone
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is turning over a new chapter in The Imagination Library legacy – celebrating 200 million books gifted globally since inception in 1995. The early childhood book-gifting program mails a high-quality, free book each month to children from birth to age five. The United Way of Coshocton is excited to celebrate with every child/family enrolled locally. Since starting the program in Coshocton County in 2008, we have given more than 155,000 books to local children ages birth to 5 years old.
To celebrate this global 200 million book milestone, seven enchanting Dolly bookmarks will be randomly hidden inside Imagination Library books gifted during International Literacy Month (September) to children/families currently enrolled in the program. (Children must be enrolled by Monday, July 31, to receive Imagination Library books in September).
Seven random children/families in five countries who find the Dolly bookmarks in their Imagination Library books will receive, if they choose, a video chat with Dolly, a personalized signed letter from Dolly, an autographed photo from Dolly, and four Dollywood Theme Park tickets. The Dollywood Foundation will also donate $2,000 on behalf of the child to their Local Imagination Library Partner in their community as a thank you to who Dolly calls the true heroes of her program.
Inspired by her father’s inability to read and write, Dolly started the Imagination Library in 1995 to serve the children of her hometown in Sevier County, Tennessee. Today, her program spans five countries and gifts over 2.4 million free, high-quality, age-appropriate books each month to children around the world. There is never a charge to families who participate in the program and it is open to all children under the age of five in geographic areas with operating programs.
“I know there are children in communities around the world with big dreams and the seeds of these dreams are often found in books,” said Dolly. “It’s been one of my greatest gifts in life to help instill a love of reading through my Imagination Library. Reaching 200 million books worldwide is a major milestone that I’m so very proud of, and I want to thank all of our local program partners, funders and supporters from the bottom of my heart. But we’re just getting warmed up, we have so much more to do. Together, we can inspire even more children to dream more, learn more, care more and be more.”
“My daughter is one of the biggest Dolly Parton fans you will ever meet and receiving a book from the Imagination Library every month has truly been the cherry on top for her. She loves when a new book shows up each month because she feels like she is receiving something special from Dolly herself. My daughter likes to put her coat of many colors on and get her Dolly doll as we read the book together. Being a part of this program has truly been an amazing experience giving us the opportunity to make many memories together,” says Karrie Casey, mother of daughter Raven Casey.
Participating in 200 Million Reasons to Celebrate is voluntary and does not affect enrollment in Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. All children under five years of age who are actively enrolled in Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library by July 31, can participate. To learn more, visit www.imaginationlibrary.com/200-million-books.
Category: People & Places
