Washington County, OH — As one of the newest sponsors of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library in Washington County, the Kiwanis Club of Marietta has committed to supporting early childhood literacy and fostering a love for reading among children in the community.

Dolly Parton's Imagination Library is a renowned book-gifting program that provides free books to children from birth to age five, supported by funding from Dolly Parton herself and local community partners. Inspired by her father's struggles with illiteracy, Dolly launched the program in 1995 in her home county. Today, it spans five countries and has delivered over 204 million books to young readers.

Through a generous donation of $2,500, the Kiwanis Club of Marietta enabled 34 children to be swiftly registered and removed from the program's waitlist.

When asked why the club chose to support the Imagination Library, President John Halliday said “Our focus is children from all walks of life and all ages, so it was the perfect fit. Through literacy, children grow and become productive members of society. And hopefully, one day they will join Kiwanis Club!”

"The Kiwanis Club of Marietta has opened doors for these children to embark on an exciting literary adventure," stated Heather Allender, President and CEO of Marietta Community Foundation. "The Imagination Library equips them with the essential tools to develop critical reading skills and unleash their imaginations."

As the Washington County affiliate, Marietta Community Foundation contributes approximately $25 per child per year to cover book and mailing costs while actively promoting the program to drive enrollment. The total cost of a child’s enrollment is dependent on the number of months until their fifth birthday. If a child is registered at birth, their registration cost totals $125. 

Registered children receive a carefully selected, age-appropriate, and high-quality book delivered straight to their doorstep each month. Depending on the time of their registration, children can build a personal library of 60 books before they enter Kindergarten, nurturing a strong foundation for their educational journey.

The impact of the Imagination Library program extends far beyond the joy of receiving a new book each month. By instilling a love for reading from an early age, the program contributes to the holistic development of children, enhancing their cognitive abilities, expanding their vocabulary, and fostering a lifelong passion for learning.

For more information on enrolling a child or to make a donation to the Washington County Imagination Library program, visit www.mcfohio.org/imagination-library.

Founded in 1915, Kiwanis International is a global organization of clubs and members dedicated to serving the children of the world. Kiwanis and its family of clubs annually dedicate more than 18.5 million service hours to strengthen communities and serve children. The Kiwanis International family comprises nearly 558,000 adult and youth members in more than 82 countries and geographic areas. Visit kiwanis.org for more information.

Marietta Community Foundation is where generous families, businesses, and nonprofits come together to transform lives and strengthen Washington County, Ohio — turning good intentions into great accomplishments. The Foundation has distributed more than $27 Million to charities since its creation in 1974 and currently manages over 350 funds while meeting rigorous national standards in the community foundation sector.