What Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library Expansion Means for You

This week, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, with Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly and the Kansas Children’s Cabinet and Trust Fund, announced the statewide expansion of its book program. Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is dedicated to inspiring a lifelong love of reading by mailing books monthly to children (0-5 years old) free of charge with the support of local community partners.

United Way of the Plains has been a Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library (DPIL) local affiliate since 2011. In Kansas, 82 DPIL programs covering portions of 77 of the state’s 105 counties are run by community partners like United Way of the Plains, reaching 21% of the eligible children. The goal of this week’s announced expansion is to provide access of DPIL books to the remainder of the state’s children.

United Way of the Plains funds the DPIL program in select ZIP codes with the greatest need in three counties: Sedgwick, Butler and Sumner. In 2020, 12,407 children were enrolled in these counites.

DPIL’s 501(c)(3) local champions, like United Way of the Plains, provide $2.10 per child per month toward the cost of wholesale books and mailing costs. The champions promote the program locally and enroll local children.

For its part, DPIL provides database support and coordinates the monthly book order and fulfillment. (See DPIL graphic.)

In year one of the statewide expansion, DPIL plans to 1) form partnerships with new community champions in areas of Kansas not currently served, and 2) provide startup funding for newly covered areas. The Kansas Children’s Cabinet and Trust Fund Preschool Development Grant Birth through Five Renewal (PDG) will provide start-up funding for these areas and will continue to secure funding to sustain the program in the years ahead.

Local enrollments depend on local donations. For United Way of the Plains to expand into additional ZIP codes, additional funding is needed. The statewide expansion will not affect our funding levels for local children.

Help expand Imagination Library funding for local children

Your gift of $25 sponsors one child for a full year in the program.

• Donate online at unitedwayplains.org/donate and check the box to designate your gift to the Imagination Library.
• Checks can be sent to United Way of the Plains, 245 N. Water St., Wichita, KS 67202. Please include “Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library” in the memo.
• To give a corporate donation, contact Gwen Kochman, Vice President of Philanthropy, at gkochman@unitedwayplains.org or (316) 267‑1321, ext. 4123.

Register your child

To check to see if your ZIP code is funded and to register your child, visit unitedwayplains.org/imaginationlibrary.