Dolly Parton's Imagination Library

Longmont Rotary is partnering with Born to Read and the Longmont Community Foundation to bring Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library to children and families throughout Longmont. The local affiliate was relaunched in May 2025, after the community had been without broad Imagination Library coverage for more than 10 years.

Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is a book-gifting program established more than 30 years ago to promote early childhood literacy. It provides a free, age-appropriate book every month to registered children from birth until their fifth birthday. Books are mailed directly to each child, creating the excitement of receiving their own book while encouraging parents and caregivers to read with them. Families can choose books in English or bilingual English-Spanish editions, and participation is available to every eligible child regardless of family income.

The Longmont initiative brings together three organizations with complementary roles. Longmont Community Foundation serves as the official local affiliate, managing the program’s funding and paying for books and postage. Longmont Rotary has taken responsibility for enrollment administration and helped provide the initial financial support needed to launch the program. Born to Read leads community outreach, using its longstanding relationships with local hospitals, childcare providers and early childhood organizations to make families aware of the program.

The impact in Longmont is already significant. As of the latest presentation, 888 children were actively enrolled, while 101 children had already graduated after reaching age five. That means the program has supported nearly 1,000 children since its launch. Enrollment has continued to grow steadily, demonstrating strong demand from local families.

Hippo Roller Project Brings Greater Access to Water in Northern Botswana

Longmont Rotary is partnering with Rotary Okavango in Maun, Botswana, to improve access to water for families living in some of the most remote and underserved communities in northern Botswana. The project builds on a successful 2024 pilot funded through a Rotary District Grant and donations from the Rotary Clubs of Longmont, Boulder and Twin Peaks.

The traditional method of collecting water requires villagers to carry heavy containers, often weighing more than 40 pounds, on their heads and transport them considerable distances. This daily task can be particularly difficult for elderly and disabled residents and can consume valuable time for families with young children.

Following the successful pilot, Longmont Rotary entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with the newly established Rotary Okavango to expand the project to five villages within 25 kilometers of Maun. Rotary Okavango members conducted detailed assessments in each community, interviewing village leaders and social service representatives to determine the greatest needs.

The assessment revealed that two villages faced a different challenge. Although government water deliveries arrived approximately every ten days, families frequently ran out of water between deliveries. In response, the project adapted its original plan. Four 5,000-liter water storage tanks, known locally as Jojos, were purchased for the two villages, alongside the distribution of Hippo Rollers.

Each of the five villages has received Hippo Rollers, with approximately eight to ten rollers allocated according to assessed need. More than 43 families and at least 120 individuals are expected to directly benefit from the rollers, while the water storage tanks will benefit entire communities of approximately 350 residents per village.

The project is designed to improve health, reduce physical strain and return valuable time to families for education, hygiene, household activities and caring for children. The Hippo Rollers are durable, proven devices with more than 70,000 installations worldwide, requiring minimal maintenance. Rotary Okavango will provide ongoing support, spare parts and assistance when required.

More than 40 Rotarians from Rotary Okavango and District 5450 have participated through community assessments, coordination with village leaders, delivery and training. The project demonstrates Rotary’s commitment to practical, sustainable solutions that improve lives and strengthen communities around the world.

Longmont Rotary’s Philippines School Supplies Project

For more than two decades, Longmont Rotary has made a lasting difference for children in the Philippines through its school supplies project, which began in 2004 when former Rotarian Dr. Stan Ladd developed a relationship with Dauin National High School. What started with Stan carrying school supplies in a 50-pound duffel bag has grown into an annual partnership supporting six schools and nearly 3,000 students in the City of Dauin on Negros Island.

Longmont Rotary works closely with the Rotary Club of Dumaguete East (RCDE), a nearby club of approximately 35 professionals. RCDE purchases and distributes the supplies locally, providing an efficient and sustainable way for Longmont Rotary to respond directly to the schools’ needs.

The impact of the project became particularly clear during a 2012 visit by Rotarians Edwina Salazar and the project team. They visited a remote mountain school where students faced long walks—sometimes up to two hours—to attend classes. The school had only two classrooms and extremely basic facilities, including makeshift bathrooms. The experience highlighted the significant challenges faced by students in impoverished communities.

The 2026 project provided $3,000 in funding, including $1,000 from Longmont Rotary dues and additional personal donations. The funding supplied 6,352 ballpoint pens, 540 pencils, 540 boxes of crayons, 2,831 pads of paper, 318 notebooks, 178 portfolios, 125 raincoats and 115 reams of bond paper. The supplies reached 2,831 students—553 elementary and 2,278 high school students—at Bagacay, Malongcay and Panubtuban elementary schools and Dauin National, Froilan A. Alanano Memorial and Malongcay Dacu high schools.

The project has also demonstrated Rotary’s ability to inspire broader community support. In 2012, Longmont Rotarians helped improve basic facilities at Malongcay Dacu High School, while subsequent outside support helped expand the school to 12 classrooms.

Today, strong relationships, local Rotary leadership and direct communication with educators ensure that Longmont Rotary’s support reaches students where it is needed most.After more than two decades, the partnership continues to demonstrate Rotary’s ability to create lasting relationships and practical, sustainable change—one student and one school at a time.

_{Breakthrough: Breaking the Cycle of Recidivism}

Longmont Rotary, in partnership with the Rotary Club of Boulder, is supporting Breakthrough Alliance of Colorado, an innovative program helping people in the criminal justice system prepare for successful lives after incarceration.

Recidivism is the cycle in which individuals released from prison return to incarceration, often because they face significant barriers to employment, housing, education, family support and other essential services. In Colorado, approximately one in two people released from correctional facilities returns to prison within three years.

Breakthrough works to change that outcome by starting its support before release. Its 32-week Challenge program develops character, job readiness, career skills, reentry planning and an entrepreneurial mindset. Support continues after release through employment assistance, mentoring, care management and practical resources designed to help participants successfully reintegrate into their communities.

The program has demonstrated encouraging results. Breakthrough reports that 50% of its graduates remain free after release, while its broader work has helped reduce recidivism and generated significant savings for Colorado taxpayers.

Longmont Rotary’s grant, together with support from Boulder Rotary, is an investment not only in individuals but also in families, communities and public safety. By providing people with skills, support and a genuine opportunity for a second chance, Breakthrough helps replace the cycle of incarceration with a pathway toward employment, stability and productive community involvement.

It is a powerful example of Rotary’s “Service Above Self” philosophy in action.

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