Cox Charities Community Investment Grant Helps Fund the Imagination Library Program

A generous grant from COX Charities will help fund Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library managed by United Way of the Plains. Launched locally in 2011,the program fosters a love of reading in preschool children by mailing them a new book every month. To date, 892,500 books have been mailed to area children. Young readers can be enrolled for monthly mailings at birth. The program concludes once children reach the age of 5.

United Way of the Plains provides $2.10 per child per month toward the cost of wholesale books and mailing costs in select ZIP codes with the greatest need in three counties: Sedgwick, Butler and Sumner. Last year 12,407 children were enrolled in these counties. The ZIP codes covered and the number of local enrollments depend on the generosity of local donors.

Abel Frederic is the Vice President of Community Impact for United Way of the Plains. His team oversees the administration of the program and secured the grant from Cox Charities. “The Imagination Library program builds excitement around reading and encourages quality family time. Literacy initiatives are critical so that area preschool children begin kindergarten ready to learn and with an awareness of the importance of learning. The donation from Cox is very much appreciated. The funding will help us continue the program for those children who are already enrolled and looking forward every month to their mailing.”

Interested in learning more about the Dolly Parton Imagination Library? Visit our website and read our blog post.