Local organizations aim to improve early literacy w/ program launch

Greater Gallatin United Way and Bozeman Noon Rotary have announced the local launch of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library to help improve early literacy and grade-level reading for children.
As expressed by Rob Watson, Bozeman School District Superintendent, too many children are entering kindergarten without the necessary early literacy skills to achieve grade-level reading by the end of 3rd grade, a critical milestone. From pre-K through 3rd grade, children are learning to read. Upon entering 4th grade, they need the necessary reading skills to learn subject content. Without grade-level reading skills, they fall more and more behind every year.
Greater Gallatin United Way and Bozeman School District knows this can change, but the entire community needs to rally around this issue. Launching Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is just one strategy Greater Gallatin United Way is taking to improve literacy, narrow the achievement gap and ensure all children can succeed in school, work and life.
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is a book gifting program that mails free, high-quality books to children from birth until they begin school. The first five years of a child’s life are vitally important to their development. From zero to three years, 90 percent of a child’s brain is developed.
The program is funded entirely by donations. Generous startup funds were donated by local champions including Mark and Betsy Sullivan, who established a $15,000 Annual Matching Gift Incentive, Bozeman Noon Rotary, The Dairy Keep Project and Joan and Dean McSweeney.
The kickoff event and initial enrollment will take place on Friday, November 16th from 12–1pm at Bozeman Public Library. The program will initially be available for residents in zip codes 59715 and 59718. Within 5 years, Greater Gallatin United Way aspires to enroll 2,000 children annually in the program. With community support, they hope to grow and expand the program to neighbor communities in Gallatin, Park, Meagher and Madison Counties.
For more information, call (406) 587-2194 or visit www.GreaterGallatinUnitedWay.org/imagination_library.