Local organization works to bring Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library to Central Pennsylvania

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  Aniya Faulcon is The Spark Host/Producer for WITF. She has a passion for shining a light on unique people, experiences, and perspectives within the community.
  
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lot of new books in hardcover.

Airdate: November 16, 2022

Capital Area Intermediate Unit is hosting a fundraiser this month to bring Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library to Central Pennsylvania. The program allows a family to register their child(ren) to receive a free, new, developmentally appropriate book each month, from the time they’re born to the age of five.

Dr. Andria Saia, executive director at Capital Area Intermediate Unit, said research shows that books in the home is the game changer, as they help develop early literacy, scholarly, culturally appropriate skills, that are necessary for success in school and life.

“We think it’s really important to make sure that every child can have books in the home, regardless of their ability to pay, regardless of a parent’s ability to get to those books or understand what’s developmentally appropriate,” Dr. Saia said. “We want to make sure that everybody has access to that because equitable access is what makes education accessible for all.”

Brandon Carter, supervisor of special projects at Capital Area Intermediate Unit, said Parton’s passion to create her program came from the her want to fulfill the need for books in the home.

He said, his organization identified with that mission as their mission is to change lives.

Dr. Saia said, to bring Parton’s program to Central Pennsylvania it will cost about $180,000 and to fund free books for all of the children in the region it will cost about $500,000.

Dr. Saia said, she’s hoping to talk to the state’s new administration to see if they will help fund Parton’s program; but for now, her organization is hosting a Monte Carlo fundraiser on November, 26th at 6 p.m. at the Whitaker Center in Harrisburg.

For more information about this event and Capital Area Intermediate Unit’s progress in bringing Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library to Central Pennsylvania visit caiu.org/community/opportunities-for-everyone/monte-carlo.