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Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library Receives Funding from Sentara Healthcare

Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library Receives Funding from Sentara Healthcare

 

The Community Foundation of Harrisonburg and Rockingham County (TCFHR) and Sentara Healthcare are collaborating to bring books into the hands of all children under five years old in our community. TCFHR, a local nonprofit organization, received word that Sentara Healthcare will fund a $15,000 grant to their latest program, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. TCFHR became a local community affiliate in July 2021. In the eight months since their official launch in March 2022, 1,900 Harrisonburg-Rockingham children enrolled to receive free monthly books.

Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is a monthly book-gifting program that mails free, quality, and age-appropriate books to all children under five years old in a designated program area. Inspired by her father’s inability to read and write, Dolly began the program in 1995 for children in her home county in Tennessee. Today, the Imagination Library spans the United States, Canada, Ireland, United Kingdom, and Australia, mailing over 1 million books to children each month. “As the local community partner, we are responsible for certain expenses. The cost of wholesale books and shipping is $2.10 per book, totaling $25.20 for the year for one child. This grant signifies the delivery of over 7,000 monthly books and over 500 children receiving books at no cost to their families for an entire year.” – Amanda Bomfim, Program Officer, TCFHR.

This news came as a roaring excitement to TCFHR staff. “This $15,000 grant from Sentara Healthcare will mean so much to our community. Our dream for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is that we connect all the infants, young children, and families in Harrisonburg and Rockingham with books and create a love for reading. We hope to never turn a child away and these funds will help us do that.” – Revlan Hill, Executive Director, TCFHR. In November, the program will reach the milestone of 10,000 books mailed to local children. To learn more about the Imagination Library, visit www.tcfhr.org or call The Community Foundation at 540-432-3863.

About The Community Foundation of Harrisonburg & Rockingham County 

The Community Foundation of Harrisonburg and Rockingham County makes charitable giving easy, acting in the best interest of our donors and partners to facilitate bold philanthropic initiatives for a stronger, healthier community.

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