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News & Politics
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