United Way of Northeastern Minnesota (UWNEMN) joins families, children, and music lovers across the world in mourning the loss of Dolly Parton.
The organization has particularly close ties to the iconic singer as the local affiliate of her Imagination Library program. UWNEMN has been operating the program, mailing books to children under age five at no cost to their families, in communities across the Iron Range, Koochiching County, and Lake of the Woods County since 2008.
“Imagination Library was our first step in transitioning from a fundraising model to a community impact model,” said UWNEMN Executive Director Erin Shay. “Dolly didn’t just inspire children to read; she showed our organization that we could operate our own programming.”
Today, UWNEMN operates more than a dozen of its own programs, most created by its staff with community input, including Buddy Backpacks, Lunch Buddies mentoring program, and United for Veterans. The organization also continues to reinvest funds raised into 51 regionwide nonprofits including all local food shelves and libraries’ summer reading programs.
Donations to UWNEMN support nonprofits and programs focused on improving financial stability, community health and resiliency, and youth opportunity.
“Imagination Library touches on all our focus areas,” said UWNEMN Youth Opportunity Coordinator Sarah Fetzik. “The connection between early literacy, educational achievement, and adult health and success is well-researched.”
Parton created the early literacy program in 1995 as a tribute to her father.
"He was the smartest man I have ever known, but I know in my heart his inability read probably kept him from fulfilling all of his dreams,” her website quotes. “Inspiring kids to love to read became my mission."
Parton’s original goal was to get books into the homes of children in her home county. Today, Imagination Library books are available worldwide, and millions of children have benefited. With the support of local donors and the Dollywood Foundation, UWNEMN has mailed than 400,000 Imagination Library books to children in our region since 2008.
The Dollywood Foundation keeps the cost of books and postage affordable; every $35 UWNEMN raises sponsors a local child to receive Imagination Library books for an entire year. There are no income guidelines for families to enroll children under age five in the program.
In light of Parton’s passing, the foundation and its affiliates, like UWNEMN, remain committed to continuing the operation of Imagination Library.
“This program was already special to us because we know how much it means to local families, many of whom don’t have a library in their community,” Fetzik said. “Now it’s even more special. It’s a way to carry on Dolly’s legacy.”
In lieu of flowers, Parton’s family asks for donations to be made to the Imagination Library program.
Donate in support of the program
Enroll an Iron Range child in the program