News

United Way of the Southern Tier receives $5,000 Chemung County grant for Imagination Library

Sept. 9, 2021:

United Way of the Southern Tier’s chapter of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is the recipient of a $5,000 grant from the Chemung County Community Development Fund.

“We are grateful to Chemung County for its support of this important program that seeks to instill a love of reading in young children and prepares them to start school ready to learn,” said United Way of the Southern Tier President and CEO Stephen M. Hughes.

Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is a free book-gifting program available to all children under 5 years of age who live in either Chemung County or Steuben County, regardless of family income. Currently, nearly half of all children under age 5 in these two counties – more than 4,600 children – are receiving a free, age-appropriate book by mail each month through the Imagination Library.

Additionally, more than 1,700 local children are “graduates” of the program, meaning they received books but aged out of the program when they reached age 5. Approximately 50% of enrollees and graduates reside in Chemung County.

Although Dolly Parton is the champion and spokesperson for the initiative she started in 1995 in Tennessee, the famed icon does not provide funding for the program. This local chapter of the Imagination Library is supported by grants and donations made to United Way of the Southern Tier for this purpose.

Donate to the Imagination Library

Media inquiries: Contact Lois Wilson at United Way of the Southern Tier. Email or call 607-377-5834.