Imagination Library
ORGANIZATIONS SUPPORT IMAGINATION LIBRARY PROJECT
CROWN POINT — Two local organizations have come together in support of a community based literacy project. The Crown Point Rotary Club and the Crown Point Community Foundation contributed $2,500 each allowing 200 children to participate in the Dolly Parton Imagination Library project. With additional support from Crown Point Rotary, 300 children are now enrolled!
The Dolly Parton Imagination Library is a literacy based program. Every month, participating children will receive an age appropriate book, delivered directly to their home, until they reach the age of 5. This program is FREE to the families – because of the generosity of both the Crown Point Rotary Club and the Crown Point Community Foundation.
“This is a new program for our organizations”, said Katherine Chariton, President of Crown Point Rotary. “CP Rotary is an active community organization supporting projects like: Shoes for Kids, Rotarian Library and Rebuilding Together of NWI. This program will interact directly with young families. We were happy to spearhead this project.”
The Crown Point Community Foundation is involved with financial support for the project as well as serving on the committee as project participant. Mary Nielsen, President of the CPCF, believes literacy is a huge factor in preparing children for kindergarten. “In the past several years, the CPCF has focused much attention on literacy projects. It takes only $25.70 a year to provide one child a book each month. We are hopeful more donors will get involved. Our goal is to reach families with children under five.”
The Foundation and Rotary are partnering with the Crown Point Community Schools to identify the first 300 families. Mary Ann Chapko, Principal of Eisenhower Elementary, is helping to coordinate the project. Other members of the team are: Brad Belush, Bette Oesterle and Sue Riester.
For more information on the Imagination Library Project or to sponsor a child, please contact Crown Point Rotary at 219.663.0110. You can make an online gift at: www.theCPCF.org search for the Crown Point Rotary Fund and donate now.
Below is a letter I received from Marian Buchko, the principle at MacArthur School, Crown Point:
Dear Katherine,
Attached is a picture of “some” of the MacArthur students and parents that are part of the Imagination Library program. The students are holding some of the actual books they have received thanks to the Rotary. On behalf of MacArthur School thank you so much for this life changing project. To put books in the hands of students that wouldn’t otherwise have them is such a blessing.
Have a Great Day.
Marian
We successfully launched our Imagination Library Literacy Project and have registered 200 children birth to 5 years old of low income families in the program!
The Imagination Library, fosters a love of reading among preschool children by providing them with a free high quality, age-appropriate book every month from birth to the age of five. The program supports early childhood literacy and a life long love of reading by creating excitement about books. The program insures that every child will have access to books, regardless of their family’s income.
Working with the Dolly Parton Foundation Imagination Library, the Rotary currently provides monthly books to over 450 children within the geographic area served by the Crown Point Community School Corporation. Our goal is to expand to provide to any child wishing to receive books in our service area. With community support, the Rotary will be able to strive to meet this challenge.