Smart Start & Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library Reach One Millionth Book Milestone in NC
Literacy program that delivers books directly to children under five now available in every county
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 13, 2018
Press Contact: Heather Strickland 919-749-5013, 919-821-9564, hstrickland@smartstart.org
Raleigh, NC – The one millionth book was delivered this month directly to the home of a young North Carolina child thanks to a partnership between the globally recognized early literacy program Dolly Parton’sImagination Library and Smart Start, North Carolina’s early childhood network.The program has currently registered nearly 200,000 children to date.
“Smart Start and the Imagination Library dared to dream big and look what we have done!” stated Dolly Parton, the founder of the program.“And best of all we are just getting started. We want to inspire every child inNorth Carolina to love reading and to love learning.”
During the 2017 legislative session, North Carolina state lawmakers included $3.5 million in the first year of the budget and $7 million in the second year for the Smart Start network to offer free books through ImaginationLibrary to children across the state. Imagination Library is a program created to foster a love of reading among children aged birth to five through the gift of a specially selected book delivered right to their home each month.
“What an incredible milestone,” stated Cindy Watkins, thePresident of the North Carolina Partnership for Children that oversees theSmart Start network, “I am grateful to our state leadership for recognizing how important it is to get books into the hands of our youngest children. With this funding, the Smart Start network was able to get Imagination Library directly to our communities very quickly.”
Smart Start began rolling out Imagination Library in October2017 and the program is now available to every child in the state under the age of five. With 75 local partnerships across the state, Smart Start continues to enroll young children to get as many books into the homes of North Carolina children as possible.
“Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library has been in my community for many years and I’ve seen the impact the gift of a book can have on families,” stated Senator Ralph Hise, the lead Senate sponsor on the bill funding the partnership between Smart Start and Imagination Library. “I wanted to continue to support and grow literacy throughout the state.”
“Developing a love for reading early is a critical piece of the foundation for life-long learning and success, “stated Representative JoshDobson, a lead House Sponsor. “The state investment in this program is an investment in the future leaders of North Carolina.”
To find out more about Smart Start and Dolly Parton’sImagination Library partnership, or to enroll a child in North Carolina, visit http://www.smartstart.org/dolly-partons-imagination-library/. More information is available online at www.smartstart.org
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About the North Carolina Partnership for Children and Smart Start: Smart Start is a network of 75 nonprofit local partnerships that serve all 100 North Carolina counties. This network is led by The North Carolina Partnership for Children (NCPC) that ensures fiscal and programmatic accountability, and coordinates the statewide network to create better outcomes for children and families. Learn more about NCPC and theSmart Start network at www.smartstart.org.
