Leslie Elsemore, Co-Founder of the Lake Stevens Education Foundation, along with the late and very beloved Terri Spencer updated our Club on the Foundation and its activities. Leslie shared the latest news from the LSEF talking about a fundraiser for teachers to come up with innovative ways to teaching. Leslie's mentioned that her father was a Rotarian and a Paul Harris Fellow. LSEF was organized in 1993 by parents, community members and the school district administrators for the purpose of providing an alternative source of support for district programs and scholarships. LSEF is a separate entity from the Lake Stevens School District.
Leslie talked about the importance of the Dolly Parton Imagination Library which is a unique early-years book gifting program that partners with local community sponsors to mail a new, age-appropriate book each month to children from birth through age 5, creating a library of up to 60 books and instilling a love of books, reading and learning. Dolly Parton started the program in 1995 in her home county. The program went nationwide in 2000. LSEF is the Lake Stevens Community affiliate. The program is open to children living within the Lake Stevens School District. The goal is simple. Every child to have books, to be read to 20 minutes every day and to be ready to be successful in school. Since 2008, over 2,500 children in Lake Stevens have received books. Leslie acknowledged that our Club has sustained the Dolly Parton Imagination Library program. The cost of the Dolly Parton program is $25 per child per month. Each month, LSEF mails books to 750 school age children in Lake Stevens. The Post Office has an agreement with Leslie that if a book is undeliverable they will return the books to Leslie.
The Marysville and the Granite Falls School Districts were involved in the Dolly Parton Imagination Library program until United Way canceled its contribution. Both Districts are unable to fund the program. ABC, Academic Beginning for Children is the early learning committee of the Lake Stevens Education Foundation working in partnership with the Lake Stevens School District and Lake Stevens Library. ABC's mission is to support early learning for children birth to 5 living within the Lake Stevens School District.
Other programs include the Annual Spring Literacy Concert, Ready, Set, Kindergarten, Read 20 Minutes a Day Celebration, Play & Learn Group and Born Learning Trails. Thanks Leslie for your contribution to the community, the Lake Stevens Education Foundation and your continued inspiration.