Sherri Ballew, the President of the Arlington Education Foundation and Chair of the Dolly Parton Imagination Library project, spoke to the club about the Dolly Parton program. 

Sherri Ballew AEF President and Imagination Library Chair

Rotary has been supporting the program financially as a partner.  There is a combined AEF and Rotary Committee.

The program mails a book monthly to any child registered from 0-5 years old in Arlington and Darrington.  All the administrative costs are covered by the Library.  We just pay for the books and the postage. 

The Library committee works jointly with a Rotary committee on this program.  Rotary has committed to donating $2,500 each year for two years but due to grants received we have only donated one time.  $7,300+ books mailed. 648 enrolled in the program. 104 children have aged out of the program. Our area serves all children 0-5 years old in Arlington and Darrington.  If you want to donate to the program visit the Dolly Parton Library website. 

This program is run nationwide and in other countries.  Visit the website and enter your zip code to find out if there is a program in your neighborhood.  WEBSITE Stanwood Rotary serves Stanwood and Camano Island.

Another AEF project is classroom mini-grants. Teachers can apply to the Arlington Education Foundation for a mini-grant to try out new ideas in their classroom.  If you are interested you can sponsor some of the grants.

The AEF is hosting a beer and wine fundraiser on October 20th at Dwayne Lane's.

For more AEF news, check out its newly revised and revamped website by clicking HERE