Verizon Helps Fund Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library With $40k Donation

Verizon presents Governor’s Books from Birth Foundation with a $40,000 check to help bring Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library to foster care children in Tennessee.

During the University of Tennessee game against the University of Georgia, the Pride of the Southland Marching Band paid tribute to Dolly Parton with a full halftime show dedicated to her. As if that wasn’t amazing enough, Verizon presented a $40,000 check to help further fund her Imagination Library in Tennessee. This incredible gift will help provide free, age-appropriate books to children living in foster care.

The Governor's Books from Birth Foundation (GBBF) has been a longtime partner of Dolly Parton's Imagination Library. In 2004, GBBF and Dolly Parton's Imagination Library partnered to launch a statewide campaign to make free books available to all children throughout the state from the time they are born until they turn five years old. Today, along with Verizon's continued support, that same partnership will provide Tennessee's foster care children, under age five, with free, age-appropriate books.  

When asked about Verizon's continued support, president of GBBF, Theresa Carl said,

“Verizon believes in our mission and has worked closely with us to ensure that all age-eligible children entering foster care in Tennessee receive books from Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.”

This year marks the 10th anniversary of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library being statewide in Tennessee thanks to partnerships like that of GBBF and our amazing program affiliates throughout the state. Together, we've mailed more than 24 million books to Tennessee children!

To date, Dolly Parton's Imagination Library has mailed more than 72 million free books to children across the US, UK, CA and AU.

10 Million Books To Tennessee

The Governor’s Books from Birth Foundation (GBBF) and Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library are celebrating a significant milestone: more than 10 million free books have been delivered to Tennessee children in all 95 counties since the program began in 2004, developing their vocabulary, school readiness and a love of learning.

Currently, more than 214,000 Tennessee children under the age of five (57 percent) in all 95 counties are receiving an age appropriate, high quality book delivered each month to their home. More than 170,000 children have graduated from the program since 2004.
Locally, the Friends of the Library is the sponsor for the free monthly books from birth to age 5, with around 40% of the county’s eligible children enrolled. There are 437 children receiving the books and 418 have graduated after reaching age 5. The local program began in March 2005. To enroll a Polk County child, contact Jan Lycans at 496-1267 or Jenny Rogers at 338-7669, or register online at www.governorsfoundation.org.
The milestone comes on the heels of the announcement that Tennessee is one of just two states awarded funding in the first round of President Obama’s Race to the Top competition, recognizing our state’s forward thinking in education reform and changing the way the nation views Tennessee’s commitment to education. Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is a part of that commitment, giving all Tennessee children access to free books and encouraging a lifetime of learning.

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