Imagination Library-February 3, 2016

The Rotary Club of Hazleton recently donated $3,500.00 to the United Way of Greater Hazleton for its Dolly Parton Imagination Library Project. The money has been allocated through a Rotary Club 2015-16 Community Grant Program. These “Service above Self” community grants are intended to benefit organizations and agencies in communities in the Greater Hazleton Area.

This United Way project is a preschool literacy program that is open to children who enroll with a new, FREE, age-appropriate hardcover book every month from birth to five years of age, regardless of socioeconomic status. It ensures that children will have quality books at home to inspire a love for reading and literacy. It helps ensure that children enter kindergarten with a strong ability to read and an eagerness to learn which should help strengthen the literacy level of our community.

Lehigh Valley Hospital-Hazleton enrolls the newborns into the program at its Family Birthing Center.

Pat Ward, President of the United Way of Greater Hazleton says “Begun over two years ago, the United Way has enrolled approximately 350 children into the program and now thanks to Rotary another 25 will be able to participate. It’s a big boost”.

The vision of the program is to promote preschool children and their families being excited about books and reading together. Children enrolled in the program start with receiving their first book of “The Little Engine That Could” and complete the program with “Look Out Kindergarten Here I Come.”

The Dolly Parton Imagination Library was initiated in 1996 by Dolly Parton and adopted by United Way of Greater Hazleton last July. The program that started in East Tennessee is now nationwide with over 23 million books already distributed

Rotary President Ron Avellino says “It is obvious that books and the ability to read, understand and enjoy them are essential to the success of a child and helps that child become a productive member of his/her school and Community. The Rotary Club is very pleased to be able to help The United Way give this gift to area youngsters and their families.”

“As an educator, I am happy that the Rotary Club leadership agreed to fund this project that will introduce books and reading to many area youngsters.” says Tom Hood, Project Committee Chairman. “I congratulate the Rotary Club membership for all of its hard work and dedication to fundraising projects that allow us to follow the Rotary motto of “Service above Self”.