Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library soon will be coming to Madison County to help provide free books monthly to children.
United Way’s Success By 6 initiative will join with community leaders Wednesday, July 23, to introduce the partnership with the Dollywood Foundation at the Madison County Public Library in Richmond.
Beginning at 10:30 a.m., adults will read to children in attendance during Imagination Library Story Time.
The Imagination Library allows for children from the day they are born to receive an age-appropriate book every month until their fifth birthday at no cost to the child or family.
On their fifth birthday, the child will receive “Look Out Kindergarten, Here I Come” as their final book in the program.
Children, who can enter the program at any time, must reside in one of nine Central Kentucky counties: Madison, Anderson, Bourbon, Clark, Fayette, Jessamine, Montgomery, Scott or Woodford. The books are shipped directly to the children.
“In order for parents to read with a child, books must be in the home,” said David Kitchen, director of communications for United Way of the Bluegrass. “By partnering with the Dollywood Foundation, our goal is to eliminate one of the reasons why parents do not read to their child — the availability of quality books in the home.”
The program, which currently provides books to 3,250 eligible children in the regional community of United Way of the Bluegrass, began in Lexington in 2004 and has spread to include Anderson, Bourbon, Clark, Montgomery, Scott and Woodford counties.
Madison and Jessamine counties are the latest to join the initiative.
“I am so thrilled that United Way’s Success By 6 is bringing my Imagination Library to Central Kentucky,” said Parton in a statement. “I hope this will be an inspiration to children all across Kentucky to dream more, learn more, care more and be more.”
The award-winning country singer will be in Richmond on Saturday, Oct. 25, for an encore performance of St. Mark Catholic Church’s fundraising “An Evening Among Friends” series.
A 1999 Department of Education publication, “Start Early, Finish Strong: How To Help Every Child Become A Reader,” emphasized the importance of a child’s interaction with their environment rather than intelligence as a key factor in determining the ease at which a child will learn to read.
Literacy skills, such as letter names and shapes, associating sounds with letters, being read to, familiarity with books and associating reading with love and fun, are developed long before a child is able to read, Kitchen said.
“The key is to start at birth,” he said. “To immerse a child in a literacy environment can be a stronger predictor of literacy and academic achievement than family income. The more words a child hears, the larger the child’s vocabulary, and the larger a child’s vocabulary the more likely the child will be a proficient reader.”
Because the program is such a large financial undertaking, Kitchen said the United Way is seeking donations from individuals and companies who wish to help continue Imagination Library.
Donation forms for the program are available online at www.uwbg.org/successby6 or by calling United Way at 1-859-233-4460.
It costs approximately $150 for each child enrolled in the program.
Imagination Library forms will be available at the library and other centers around town beginning July 23 and also are available online at www.uwbg.org/successby6.
Parents or caregivers need to complete the form, mail it to United Way, 2480 Fortune Drive #250, Lexington, KY 40509.
Local News
‘Imagination Library’
Dolly Parton’s program coming to Madison County
- Local News
-
-
Judge weighs constitutionality of legislative redistricting
Kentucky’s deadline for filing to run for legislative seats was in flux on Monday because a judge did not immediately rule on a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of newly redrawn district boundaries.
Franklin County Circuit Judge Phillip Shepherd said he expects to enter a ruling in the case by mid-week.
-
Couple recovering from injuries suffered in weekend house fire
A couple was hospitalized after their home was set ablaze Sunday by a spark from a cigar, according to a county fire official.
County Fire Chief Jim Cox said the city and county fire departments were called to the home at 111 Concord Road in the early afternoon. Waco Volunteer Fire Department and the Richmond Fire Department also responded.
-
EKU closes dining room at Arlington Clubhouse
A Richmond country club is no longer offering dining to members, but remains available for catered events and will be open on certain holidays.
Arlington Country Club, which has been a staple of Eastern Kentucky University for the past 40 years, laid off all dining staff late last week, according to Tom Coffey of the EKU Foundation.
-
Standoff at Super 8 Motel ends peacefully
A bizarre drug-fueled standoff at the Richmond Super 8 Motel ended peacefully with no one hurt, including a child who was in the room with a man that police found wielding two knives.
About 1:53 a.m. Friday, police received a call about a man who was threatening someone with a knife at the motel on North Keeneland Drive, according to Richmond Police Chief Larry Brock.
-
Trial for couple accused of human trafficking delayed
The trial for a Berea couple accused of human trafficking involving their daughters has been delayed.
Despite Monday morning television reports that the trial was beginning Monday, it was postponed because the attorneys are not ready to try the case.
-
Richmond man charged with child porn possession
(Editor’s note: The following story contains graphic information some readers may find offensive.)
A Richmond man has been arrested for possession of child pornography as a result of a nearly one-year investigation by local police.
-
Noted author to deliver keynote address for Black History Month
Almost a year ago, Arnold Rampersad stood in the East Room of the White House as he was presented the National Humanities Medal by President Barack Obama.
On Thursday, Feb. 16, the noted author will stand in O’Donnell Hall of Eastern Kentucky University’s Student Success Building to deliver the keynote address for the university’s Black History Month observance. Rampersad’s visit is also part of Eastern’s year-long Chautauqua lecture series, and the title of his talk, “Black History: The Challenge of Living with Others,” coincides with this year’s Chautauqua theme, “Living with Others: Challenges and Promises.” -
Habitat for Humanity
Habitat for Humanity of Madison and Clark Counties, which has built 160 homes for people in need since 1992, is seeking applicants for partner families, according to Judy Flavell, executive director of the organization.
“We really need applicants right now,” Flavell said. “More people can qualify for Habitat homes than people realize.”
Eligible applicants must have lived in Madison or Clark counties for at least one year, have a stable income, be able to pay a modest monthly mortgage and be able to demonstrate that their current housing is overcrowded, physically substandard, too expensive, unsafe, or they are living in subsidized housing, according to Habitat.
For more information about eligibility, or to apply, call Habitat for Humanity at 625-9208 or visit its office at 1417 East Main Street in Richmond. Visit online at habitatmadisonclark.org. -
Occupational therapy dept. at EKU offers program for adults with memory loss
For local adults who are experiencing memory loss related to dementia or Alzheimer’s, the Department of Occupational Therapy at Eastern Kentucky University has provided “The Place to Be” for the past two decades.
The department will again sponsor the free eight-week program on Thursdays and Fridays, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., beginning Feb. 9. Participants can attend Thursday and/or Friday. Applications still are being accepted (call 893-0653) for the free service, which is offered in Room 100 of the Dizney Building on EKU’s campus. -
Bible Belt towns in state consider going ‘wet’
In this Appalachian college town where socially conservative views are bedrocks of life, some people want to do what was once unthinkable: legalize liquor sales.
Supporters say passing the measure in Tuesday’s special election in Barbourville would tap a new revenue source in a place where hundreds of jobs are evaporating as one plant shuts down and another cuts its workforce in half. But from the pulpits to the courthouse square, opponents have been pressing their case that uncorking liquor sales would irreparably harm the town of about 3,200. - More Local News Headlines
-
Judge weighs constitutionality of legislative redistricting
White House Attacks Romney on Birth Control
Homs Bombardment Continues, Global Outcry Grows
Mo. Teen Gets Life Sentence for Killing Girl, 9
Lower-hassle Screening to Be Tested at Airports
Raw Video: Dog Rescued From Icy Colo. Water
Helmet Camera Captures Calif. Fire Rescue
Worker Tells 911: Powell 'exploded the House'
Triple Win: Santorum Takes Minn., Mo., Colo.
Injured Marine Inspired by Homecoming
No Rape Charges Against Son of NYPD Commissioner
Egypt's Ruling Generals Play Risky Game With US
Former Komen Exec Defends Funding Cut
Skip the Coffee Cup and Inhale Your Caffeine Fix
Calif. Gay Marriage Ban Ruled Unconstitutional
Jury Selection for Ex-UVa Athlete Enters 2nd Day
Cab Driver Helps Wis. Family Escape House Fire
Staff Removed at LA School During Abuse Probe
Runaway Goat Leads Police on Wild Chase
