Washington County, OH – Studies show that children, ages birth to five years old, who have access to print in their homes and are read to regularly are exposed to approximately 1 million more words than children who are not. This access gives children the equivalent of three additional years of education, giving them a head start when they enter grade school.

Thanks to a recent donation from Kiwanis of Marietta, Ohio, 25 local children have been registered in Marietta Community Foundation’s Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library Program.

“We just felt it was important to fill this need since this program aligns with our values in helping children from birth to 5 years old to enhance their literacy development,” said Joan Zoller, President of Kiwanis Marietta, Ohio. “We wanted to support 25 children to receive an age-appropriate book to introduce them to the joy of reading.”

The DPIL is a book gifting program for children ages birth to five years old. For only $25 a year, a registered child will receive an age-appropriate, high-quality book in the mail each month.

“Each of these books come addressed to the child,” said Heather Allender, President & CEO of the Foundation. “That’s a big deal, especially to a child who is not able to receive new things very often. This program is effective, efficient, and creates a major impact in a child’s life.”

The cost per child, if he or she is registered during the full term of eligibility, is $125. During this time, they will accumulate 60 books, creating a library of their very own before starting grade school. The DPIL is a cost-effective way to bridge the “1 million word gap,” a disparity that exists for children who are not granted access to print.

In 2019, the state of Ohio launched a state-wide partnership with DPIL by creating the Ohio Governor’s Imagination Library. The effort was spearheaded by First Lady Fran DeWine, which allocated $5 million for the program in the state’s budget for two years and was recently renewed once more.

Thanks to the efforts of Marietta Community Foundation, Washington County experienced the highest growth out of any county in Ohio in 2019. Although COVID-19 negatively impacted their fundraising efforts throughout 2020, the Foundation still serves approximately 30% of Washington county’s eligible population.

Serving a total of 1,146 children, with a current roster of 875 registered children, the Foundation has given out nearly 15,000 books since it began the program.

To serve 100% of Washington County’s eligible population, it would cost approximately $74,000 each year. The Foundation is working diligently to increase the program’s endowment for long-term impact, but gifts, like the one recently received by Kiwanis of Marietta, make a huge impact in the short term.

“Although we are working to make this program self-sustaining, we realize that there are children right now who need this program,” said Allender. “The generosity from our local Kiwanis club has helped us make a difference in 25 children’s lives… that alone is worth celebrating!”

Thanks to Kiwanis’ gift, only 30 children remain on the Foundation’s DPIL waiting list. Individuals who wish to help cover the cost of the remaining children can contact the Foundation at 740-373-3286.

“It might take time for us to reach our end goal,” said Allender, “but we aren’t so focused on the finish line that we ignore the joy of the actual race.”

Marietta Community Foundation works to improve Washington County through grants and initiatives. If you would like to offer long-term and/or short-term support for the Foundation’ Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library Program, please contact Heather Allender at 740-373-3286 or heather@mcfohio.org.