Best Buy General Manager Therisa Keeton (left) presents UWMC board member Kathy Silvernale and Executive Director Paul Thompson with a check for $10,000 to be used for Dolly Parton's Imagination Library

United Way of McLeod County Board President Jennifer Grimsley announced today that the    organization  has launched Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. This means every child who lives 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 Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library and the United Way of McLeod County. The program is absolutely free to the newborns and parents.

 “After talking about this wonderful program for the last year, we are thrilled to announce that we are hosting it in McLeod County,” said Grimsley. “Countless studies and common sense tells us that if you want to make sure children are ready to learn in school, one of the best guarantees is to read to them when they’re young.”

 “As host of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, the United Way of McLeod County determined at this time to begin enrollment of children born only in 2009 and then expand to those born in 2010, 2011 and so on,” said Executive Director Paul Thompson. “Imagination Library is designed to eventually enroll every child in McLeod County ages birth to five regardless of socio-economic status. We believe by getting this program launched with newborns this fall, we are on the right track for having all children 0-5 enrolled by 2013.” 

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