United Way and Thrive Restaurant Group Partner to Boost Early Childhood Literacy

WICHITA, Kan., Aug. 6, 2025 — United Way of the Plains is proud to announce a new community partnership with the Rolph family and Thrive Restaurant Group to expand awareness and enrollment in Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, a monthly book gifting program that mails free books to children from birth to age 5, regardless of income.

To celebrate the partnership and encourage local families to participate, Wichita-area Applebee’s locations will host a week-long promotion from Monday, Aug. 11, through Sunday, Aug. 17, offering free books for kids, on-site enrollment, and $1 kids’ meals at participating Applebee’s locations:

• 320 S. Ridge Rd.
• 3025 N. Rock Rd.
• 4760 S. Broadway

“Because of our family’s deep belief in the importance of childhood literacy, we are proud to support Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library,” said Jon Rolph, President and CEO of Thrive Restaurant Group. “My wife, Lauren, and I enrolled each of our six children in the program, and it was such a joy to see their excitement every month when a new book arrived. We know firsthand how this program helps create a lifelong love of reading.”

United Way of the Plains administers the program locally at no cost to families in select ZIP codes of Sedgwick, Sumner, and Butler Counties. Parents and guardians can enroll their child at unitedwayplains.org/imaginationlibrary.

“Dolly provides the books, and our local United Way ensures they reach enrolled children,” said Pete Najera, President & CEO of United Way of the Plains. “Early access to books is one of the strongest predictors of academic and life success. While the program currently serves about 12,000 children in our region, thousands more are eligible. The earlier we start, the brighter their futures.”

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MEDIA CONTACT: Stacy Ward Lattin, Manager of Public Outreach and Community Engagement, (316) 267-1321, ext. 4224, swardlattin@unitedwayplains.org

United Way of the Plains is a nonprofit and for-impact organization that focuses on health, education, financial stability and basic needs – the building blocks for a good quality of life and a strong community. Our mission is to improve lives by harnessing the caring power of our community to advance the common good in south central Kansas. Follow us on these social media channels: Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube and TikTok.