Athabasca Rotary graciously acknowledges these amazing sponsors who contributed to our 2 ongoing youth programs this past year.
The Dolly Parton Imagination Library was one of those programs. This program, with our local sponsorship,
allows any children IN THE ENTIRE COUNTY of ATHABASCA, under 5 years old, have a free book mailed to them every month.
Go to https://imaginationlibrary.com/ca/affiliate/ABATHABASCA/ to register.
As reported by Heather Stocking, January 16, 2023:
“It was 1995 when famed country singer Dolly Parton started her Imagination Library through her Dollywood Foundation in her home state of Tennessee, and now the famous reading program has reached Athabasca.
Parton said the seeds of dreams are often found in books and took it upon herself to ensure every child born in the state received free books every month for the first five years of their lives and the program has now spread to Canada, Australia, Ireland, and the United Kingdom.
Regardless of the child's age when enrolled, the first book is one of Parton’s favourites, a custom version of The Little Engine That Could and the last book when the child turns five is Look out Kindergarten, Here I Come! which comes signed by the country music icon herself.
Children need to be signed up by a parent or guardian through the website link https://imaginationlibrary.com/ca/affiliate/ABATHABASCA/ to give permission for the foundation to have birth dates and if the child is signed up right from birth, they get a book every month until they are five years old. That’s 60 books in total.
The Dolly Parton Imagination Library has over 2,700 local program partners in five countries and in December 2022 alone sent out over 2,226,765 books with a lifetime total of 197,460,315 books given away to children around the world for free.
And while the books are free to the families and children, it will cost the Rotary Club of Athabasca $3.95 per book.”
