New Partnership with Franklin County Commissioners
(COLUMBUS, Ohio)—Ohio First Lady Fran DeWine joined Franklin County Commissioner Erica C. Crawley to host a book reading celebrating a new partnership with Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library in Franklin County. First Lady DeWine and Commissioner Crawley read the Imagination Library books The Very Hungry Caterpillar and K is for Kindness to children at G. Tyree Learning Center.
“I am grateful to work alongside the Franklin County Commissioners as we continue to encourage more families in Franklin County to sign up for the Imagination Library’s free monthly book delivery,” said Ohio First Lady Fran DeWine. “The Franklin County Commissioner’s financial support will allow our program to continue growing and impacting more families with young children.”
The Franklin County Commissioners recently approved a $150,000 grant to support Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library in Franklin County. This grant will cover the local cost of mailing 115,384 books in the coming year.
"Together with First Lady DeWine, we are committed to nurturing a love for reading in our children through the Imagination Library. Every book opens a new door to adventure and knowledge, ensuring our youngest learners have the tools they need to thrive,” said Commissioner Erica Crawley.
45,223 children in Franklin County are enrolled in Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library in Franklin County. This totals to 52% of the county’s children between birth and age five who are receiving a monthly book delivery at no cost.
Caregivers do not pay to participate in Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, thanks to a collaborative funding approach from three nonprofit organizations working together. In partnership with the national program, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, books are available for purchase at $2.60 each.
Thanks to continued support from the Ohio General Assembly, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library of Ohio pays for one-half (50%) of each book mailed in all 88 counties each month. The other one-half (50%) is covered by a local program partner – a nonprofit organization – who serves as the local advocate for the program and fundraises to cover the local cost. Franklin County’s local program partner is Nationwide Children’s Hospital.
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library of Ohio currently mails a monthly book to 409,622 children in Ohio. The program is available to all children between birth and age five at no cost to families. To learn more about Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library of Ohio, visit ohioimaginationlibrary.org.
