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Racine County Imagination Library: Sharing the rewards of reading with the young children of western Racine County United Way of Racine County How can you help support the program? For more information Advocate for success Support United Way In March, 2009, United Way proudly opened its first western Racine County office location in the city of Burlington. Contact United Way Western Racine County Associate, Theresa Barrett with questions at: United Way of Racine County 615 North Pine, Suite 101 Burlington, WI 53105 Phone: 262-470-5922 tbarrett@unitedwayracine.org www.unitedwayracine.org United Way has been investing in excess of $500,000 annually in programs that serve more than 10,000 western Racine County residents. We look forward to convening the community around the important issue of early childhood success through the Imagination Library, and to continuing to work together to address our most critical community issues. Please be generous in your contributions to the annual United Way campaign. Invest in this program Program growth in this pilot year and in all future years will be dependent upon financial support and interest of the local communities. With your help, United Way will have the resources to allow all children, ages birth to five, to participate in the Imagination Library Program in western Racine County. For more information about making an individual or corporate pledge to support this program, please contact Theresa Barrett, United Way Western Racine County Associate. Celebrate the benefits of books for young children and consider the possibility of every child in western Racine County having their own library of 60 books by the time that they are 5 years old. Together we can improve the lives of children in western Racine County by building a foundation that will help them become more successful learners, prepare them for school, and help build that important relationship between children and trusted adult role models. Dolly Parton’s dream was to foster a love of reading among her county’s preschool children and their families. She wanted children to be excited about books and to feel the magic that books can create. Moreover, she wanted to insure that every child would have books, regardless of their family’s income. Help make this dream a reality for young children in our community! What is the Imagination Library? In 1996, Dolly Parton launched an exciting initiative to benefit the children of her home county in the state of Tennessee. Each month a child receives a brand new, age appropriate book. Every child can experience the joy of finding their very own book in their mail box. The books continue each month until the child turns age 5. The Dollywood Foundation manages the system to deliver the books to the home of each child. Last year, 420,000 children received a book each and every month. Bringing the program to western Racine County This program will serve only children in families residing in communities west of I-94. The list below indicates the number of eligible children under the age of 5 in these geographic areas: Burlington, City 744 • Burlington, Town 404 • Dover, Town 194 • Norway, Town 598 • Raymond, Town 226 • Rochester, Village 75 • Rochester, Town 147 • Union Grove, Village 319 • Waterford, Town 356 • Waterford, Village 462 • Yorkville, Town 155 • TOTAL CHILDREN 3,680 *Information provided by the Western Racine County Health Department. Program eligibility Program cost The cost of books and mailing is $28 per child per year or approximately $2.33 per child per month. The total budget for the pilot year of the program with 150 children includes $4,200 for the books and mailing costs. The Dollywood Foundation takes care of all book storage and directly ships the books to the children. Program history Great books! All of the books that the participants receive are selected by a panel of teaching professionals and are age-appropriate. They include the following themes: love of reading and learning; • regard for diversity of people, • culture, and environment; • promotion of self-esteem and • confidence; and appreciation of art and aesthetics. • More than 150 United Ways are currently affiliated with the Imagination Library Program across the U.S. At the close of 2007, 732 communities in 43 states, the District of Columbia, 6 Canadian provinces, and 1 Canadian territory participated in the program. “Every time we check the mail my daughter asks if her book came. To see the excitement on her face and joy in her eyes when we go home and read it and how many times she tells me just read it one more time (actually five to six more times), I’m thrilled to have this for her.” “This is such a wonderful program for both children and parents. It does so much more than just educate our children. It gives us time to bond and make memories.” United Way of Racine County has committed to support the cost in the first pilot year of the Imagination Library for no fewer than 150 children. United Way will pay for the books and mailing and promote the program to families. This program is aligned with United Way’s early childhood initiatives that ensure the healthy development of children during their early years and prepare them to enter school ready to succeed. Replication at a glance Each dot represents an Imagination Library program in the Midwest region. United Way commitment