People across the Iron Range, Koochiching County, and Lake of the Woods County looking to celebrate the newly announced “Give Like Dolly Day” can do so locally by supporting United Way of Northeastern Minnesota (UWNEMN)’s operation of the program.
UWNEMN has been operating Imagination Library locally, mailing more than 400,000 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.
“As the local affiliate for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library program, we are honored by the reverence Dolly and her foundation have given to partners like us in their ‘Give Like Dolly Day’ efforts,” said UWNEMN Executive Director Erin Shay. “We are also grateful for the support that has been shown to our local program over the years and the recent support since we lost Dolly, and we are proud to carry on Dolly’s legacy of caring for children and communities – both through Imagination Library and our other direct service programs as well as our support of other nonprofits across the region.”
Businesses and workplaces considering “Give Like Dolly Day” fundraising efforts can contact UWNEMN Resource Development & Events Director Elizabeth Kelly with questions about where to direct funds. Kelly can be reached at 218-295-2424 or elizabeth@unitedwaynemn.org.
Individual gifts can be made online or can be mailed to 608 East Drive, Chisholm MN 55719. Please indicate in writing that your gift is intended for Imagination Library.
Every $35 contributed to UWNEMN for Imagination Library sponsors a local child to receive one book/month for a year at no-cost to their family.
Local children can be enrolled online or by contacting UWNEMN Youth Opportunity Coordinator Sarah Fetzik at 218-215-2570 or sarah@unitedwaynemn.org.
More than 2,000 local children are currently enrolled in Imagination Library through UWNEMN; nearly 150 new children have been enrolled since Parton’s passing.
“It’s really touching to see the difference Dolly is still making,” Fetzik said. “I love that the foundation found a way to recognize the impact of her program and her music on ‘nine two five’ day.”