After two years of consulting with our United Way peers and hours of board deliberation, we are excited and proud to have launched Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library in August. This program is one of the first steps we’re taking to shift our focus from solely fundraising, to providing a proactive component called Community Impact. My hope with this commentary is to answer a few of the most frequently ask questions surrounding this new initiative. For example: What is the Imagination Library? How can I get my child enrolled? How can I support the program? 

First off, the launch means every child who resides in McLeod County and was born in 2009 is currently eligible to receive an age-appropriate hard back book in the mail each month. The books are a gift from donors to the United Way of McLeod County. The program is absolutely free to the newborns and parents. As you read this, we have already enrolled over 125 children, representing all eight county zip codes.  (more…)