SWEETWATER COUNTY — To help improve reading scores and kindergarten readiness, United Way of Southwest Wyoming (UWSW), in partnership with a grant from Wells Fargo, will provide books to more than 114 preschool children in Southwest Wyoming communities for one year. The $4,000 Wells Fargo grant will provide books to children birth to five years of age through Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.
Parents in Lincoln, Sublette, Sweetwater and Uinta Counties can enroll their children ages birth to five years old in the program. Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library mails one book a month, for free, to every enrolled child’s home. Since 2010, more than 2,400 Southwest Wyoming children have received books through the program. The Dollywood Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Dolly Parton’s organization, pays for the books and UWSW covers the shipping and handling charges through charitable donations and grants, like the one from Wells Fargo.
“Investing in early childhood literacy initiatives like this one is investing in the future of Southwest Wyoming,” said Ben Bell, district manager for Wells Fargo in Southwest Wyoming. “At Wells Fargo, we believe we’re only as successful the communities we serve, so we’re committed to providing the resources that our communities need to grow and prosper.”
UWSW raises funds to pay for the shipping of the books, make the program accessible to all preschool children in their area, promote the program, register the children, and enter the information into a database. The Dollywood Foundation manages the system to deliver the books to the home. United Ways across the United States have partnered with this program.
“This program gives parents the tools they need to read regularly with children during their preschool years. Parents who read to their children are giving them a boost toward a successful education,” said Amanda DeBernardi, Community Impact & Outreach Assistant. “Our goal is to increase kindergarten readiness, third grade reading scores and high school graduation rates, and this program is helping us do this.”
For more information on how you can help more children in Southwest Wyoming receive age-appropriate books, please contact United Way at 307-362-5003 or visit our website at www.swunitedway.org.
