Fabiola González, director of First 5 Fresno County, speaks at a Friday news conference in Fresno. Photo by Dylan Gonzales
Fresno City Councilmember Tyler Maxwell and other local leaders announced Friday morning a $400,000 fundraising goal to help bring Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library to Fresno County’s Lighthouse for Children.
With help from Producer’s Dairy, Valley Children’s Hospital and Fresno County Superintendent of Schools, Maxwell presented a $230,000 check to First 5 Fresno County and the Dolly Parton Imagination Library to contribute nearly 60% of the total money needed.
The Dolly Parton Imagination Library has been an initiative of the famous country singer since 1995. It gives registered children from birth to five years old one free book every month to help encourage reading.
Maxwell emphasized why Fresno County would benefit from the Dolly Parton Imagination Library.
“Did you know that 60% of third graders county-wide are unable to read at grade level,” Maxwell said. “I’m going to say that again because it’s pretty profound. Nearly 60% of third graders in Fresno County are unable to read at grade level. Nearly 60% of children across America live in households that don’t have a single children’s book in the home. And the long-term consequences of that, as you can assume, are quite devastating.”
Rachel King, the senior director of the Tennessee-based Dollywood Foundation, also touched on why giving children the opportunity to read and listen from an early age will be impactful.
“We know that books in the home can lead to increased kindergarten readiness and changing the literacy environment significantly show stronger impacts in all of our subjects, not just reading,” King said. “This impacts everything as we go along through our childhood journey. The family and the community impacts are boundless, with shared bonding tied to adult literacy, positive impacts on families and the formation of routines and stability in a family. This can all happen from getting books in the home.”
Maxwell plans to have the program ready by next year and has asked the community for help reaching $400,000. There remains $170,000 to raise to enroll the more than 70,000 eligible children in Fresno County.
A quick start checklist for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library recommends that once the scope of the program is defined for a geographic area, that organizations secure funding for the program’s five-year costs. The annual cost is $25 per child.
“If you could find it in your heart to give a contribution towards the Dolly Parton Imagination Library, you will truly be making a huge difference in the lives of children across this county,” Maxwell said.
Donations can be made on the Lighthouse for Children website.
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