United Way of Central Minnesota

Help Us Boost Early Childhood Literacy in Central Minnesota!

At United Way of Central Minnesota, we believe that every child deserves the best start in life. That’s why we’ve partnered with Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library (DPIL) to bring the gift of free books directly to children from birth to age five. By putting books into the hands of our youngest learners, we’re helping build a foundation for lifelong learning, ensuring they enter kindergarten ready to succeed.

Why We Fund This Program

Research shows that access to books during early childhood is one of the most powerful ways to improve literacy skills. Children who grow up with books in the home are more likely to develop strong reading habits, improve their language skills, and succeed academically. But for many families in Central Minnesota, this access can be limited, especially for those in low-income or multilingual households.

Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library gives every child the chance to receive high-quality, age-appropriate books at no cost to the family. It’s more than just a free book in the mail—it’s an opportunity to inspire a love of reading, bring families closer together, and create lifelong learners.

The Benefit to Our Community

Investing in early childhood literacy strengthens our entire community. By providing free books to kids in Stearns, Benton, and parts of Wright and Sherburne counties, we are:

• Increasing Kindergarten Readiness: Children who participate in DPIL are more likely to meet literacy benchmarks when they start school, giving them a better chance for success.
• Engaging Families: When children receive books, families tend to spend more time reading together, creating meaningful connections and boosting literacy at home.
• Strengthening Local Partnerships: Our collaboration with local libraries, schools, and community organizations allows us to spread the word about the program and create a community-wide focus on early childhood literacy.
• Building Lifelong Learners: Children who start kindergarten with strong reading skills are more likely to do well in school, graduate, and pursue higher education or career success.

Where Your Donation Goes

Every dollar you donate goes directly toward supporting early childhood literacy in Central Minnesota. Here’s how your contributions make an impact:

• Books for Kids: Just $30 provides a year’s worth of books for one child. Your donation ensures that more children in our community can receive these books, no matter their family's financial situation.
• Community Events: Your support helps us host events like Llama Llama Read-A-Rama, where families can engage in fun, literacy-focused activities that promote the joy of reading.
• Outreach & Enrollment: Funds also support our efforts to enroll more children, especially those from underserved communities, into the DPIL program. We’re making the program more accessible with QR codes, multilingual materials, and direct partnerships with schools, libraries, and early childhood educators.

Help Us Make a Difference

By supporting this program, you are helping us put more books in the hands of local children, empowering them to achieve their full potential. Together, we can ensure that every child in Central Minnesota has the tools they need to enter school ready to learn and thrive.

Donate today to help build a stronger, more literate future for our community.

For more information, visit our website at www.unitedwayhelps.org