D
olly Parton's Imagination
Library is a free subscription
program that provides one
book per month to Hartford children
from birth to age five. These books
are delivered directly to families to
help build their home libraries.
Research shows that the earliest
years of life can set the stage for
physical development, mental health
and academic success. Children
are more likely to achieve critical
milestones when they participate
in consistent, enriching learning
experiences; eat healthy food; and,
have time for active play. Yet, for
many children in our community,
these opportunities are out of reach.
United Way is proud to be a
champion for literacy across central
and northeastern Connecticut.
We provide access to quality early
learning programs for children from
birth to age five that help ensure
they meet critical developmental
milestones while also increasing
their early literacy skills.
Looking forward, United Way,
"You can never get enough books
into the hands of enough children."
– DOLLY PARTON
UNITED WE READ.
in partnership with Connecticut
Children's, is committed to
maintaining Dolly Parton's
Imagination Library in Hartford with
a goal of expanding more broadly
across our region.
Together, we can help children
succeed in school. Learn more
about all the ways United Way
works collaboratively to support
youth academic success at
unitedwayinc.org/our-work.
14 | COMMUNITY IMPACT REPORT 2022 | UNITED WAY
SINCE FALL 2020, NEARLY 6,300 CHILDREN IN HARTFORD HAVE
BEEN REGISTERED FOR DOLLY PARTON'S IMAGINATION LIBRARY
AND MORE THAN 50,000 BOOKS HAVE BEEN DISTRIBUTED.
We do not do this work alone and
we cannot do it without you.
A GIFT OF $40
provides an Imagination Library
book to a local child each month
for one year.
Eric Harrison, President and CEO, United Way of
Central and Northeastern Connecticut reads to a
group of children enrolled in a United Way-supported
enrichment program which helps keep them on track
academically during the summer months.
United Way Volunteer Readers
are pictured reading one-on-one
with students struggling with
literacy skills.
SEE THE
IMPACT
REPORT
