The Dolly Parton Imagination Library The Dolly Parton Imagination Library is a wonderful gift to children. In 1996, Dolly Parton launched an exciting new effort to benefit the children of her home county in east Tennessee. Dolly wanted 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 could insure that every child would have books, regardless of their family's income. So she decided to mail a brand new, age appropriate book each month to every child under 5 in Sevier County. With the arrival of every child's first book, the classic The Little Engine That Could ™, every child could now experience the joy of finding their very own book in their mail box. These moments continue each month until the child turns 5-and in their very last month in the program they receive Look Out Kindergarten Here I Come. Since 1996, the Dollywood Foundation has mailed over 12 million books to pre-school children. In 2001, she offered other communities the opportunity to replicate the Imagination Library. This year United Way of Snohomish County and the Lake Stevens Education Foundation have partnered to sponsor the program in the Lake Stevens School District. Through the generous donations of additional local sponsors including Rotary of Lake Stevens and Granite Falls, Kiwanis, Lions, the Lake Stevens Police Guild, local businesses and individuals we are working to meet our goal to gift all the children from birth to five years old living in the Lake Stevens School District their own Imagination Library! Reading to a child everyday for 20 minutes can help a child be ready to be successful upon entering school and throughout their lives. Pre-school children ages birth to five years old living within the Lake Stevens School District boundary are eligible to register to receive a free age appropriate book mailed each month until their 5th birthday. Do you know of a business, organization or individual who would like to donate funds to support this gift to our children? The cost to sponsor a child for one year is $27. We encourage you to please help maintain and sustain this program by downloading the donation flyer and sending in your donation today. For more information on the program and/or sponsoring opportunities or to receive a brochure to register a pre-school child, please contact Leslie Elsemore abc@lakestevenseducationfoundation.org.