The United Way of Crow Wing and Southern Cass Counties recently received a $5,000 donation from the Potlatch Corporation for its local Imagination Library initiative.
Imagination Library is a national literacy movement started in 1995 by actress and singer Dolly Parton to foster a love of reading among preschool-aged children. In 2004, the United Way of Crow Wing and Southern Cass Counties launched the program locally. Parents are invited to enroll their children, ages newborn to five, in the Imagination Library program at no cost to them; and, once a month, a new, age appropriate book is mailed to the child. Today, over 1600 children in the two counties are enrolled in Imagination Library.
Studies have correlated graduation rates with reading scores, stating students who can't read at their grade level by third grade are four times less likely to graduate by the age of 19 than children who do.
Jennifer Smith, Executive Director of the United Way of Crow Wing and Southern Cass Counties, said the ability to provide early childhood literacy opportunities has been met enthusiastically and, thanks to the generosity of the Potlatch Corporation, an additional 190 children throughout the Lakes Area will enter kindergarten with a head start in early literacy.
"By donating $5,000 to the United Way and the Imagination Library program, Potlatch is investing in the youth of our area's communities," said Shawn Sunnarborg, Lakes States Regional Manager for the Potlatch Corporation. "We believe in the importance of early literacy and encourage other donors to support not only the Imagination Library, but all early childhood literacy initiatives throughout our region."
ADVERTISEMENT
