A Big Win for Early Childhood Literacy
📚✨ Big news for Fresno County families! Thanks to First 5 Fresno County and Fresno City Council Member Tyler Maxwell, Fresno has officially launched California’s 30th chapter of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library (DPIL)—a program that provides free, high-quality books each month to children from birth to age five.
If a child is enrolled at birth, they’ll receive about 60 books by the time they turn five, building a strong foundation for a lifelong love of reading.
What is Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library?
Founded in 1995 by country music legend Dolly Parton, the Imagination Library is a book-gifting program with a simple yet powerful mission: get books into the hands of young children to prepare them for success in school and life.
The program mails free, age-appropriate books to registered children each month, no matter their family’s income. It’s a game-changer for early literacy, helping children develop a love of reading from the start.
📖 “You can never get enough books into the hands of young children.” – Dolly Parton
How Did Fresno Qualify for the Program?
To bring DPIL to Fresno, local partners needed to secure funding to cover the costs of the books and distribution. Initially, this required raising $800,000—a significant investment in the community’s youngest readers.
Thankfully, Senate Bill 1183, introduced by Senator Shannon Grove, allowed the State of California to match local funds dollar-for-dollar, reducing Fresno’s required fundraising goal to $400,000.
✅ With strong local support and a commitment to literacy, Fresno County met the requirements to launch the program!
Community Support: Who Helped Make This Happen?
Bringing this program to Fresno County was a team effort, with several key organizations stepping up to help:
🏥 Valley Children’s Healthcare – $50,000
⚡ PG&E – $20,000
📚 Fresno County Superintendent of Schools – $20,000
🏥 CalViva Health – $20,000
🥛 Producers Dairy – $10,000
First 5 Fresno County will oversee operations, ensuring books reach families across the region.
📖 “When you put books into the hands of young children, you’re investing in their future, their confidence, and their success. This program will change lives.” – Kendra Rogers, Executive Director, First 5 Fresno County
How Fresno Families Can Sign Up
🎉 Good news for Fresno County parents! If you have a child under five years old, you can enroll them today!
📌 Sign up here: Lighthouse for Children – Imagination Library
📬 Once registered, your child will start receiving books in the mail every month—completely free.
📷 The excitement of receiving a new book every month!
Why This Program Matters
Early literacy is one of the strongest predictors of future academic success. Studies show that children who grow up in book-filled homes develop better language skills, perform better in school, and are more likely to graduate.
🧠 Brain Development: Reading at an early age builds strong neural connections.
📖 School Readiness: Kids enter kindergarten with a larger vocabulary.
❤️ Family Bonding: Storytime strengthens relationships between parents and children.
📖 “A child who reads will be an adult who thinks.” – Unknown
With 70,000 children in Fresno County eligible, this program has the potential to transform literacy rates and educational outcomes for an entire generation.
Final Thoughts
At a time when so much is competing for kids’ attention, the magic of a good book remains timeless. Thanks to Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, the generous support of local businesses, and the dedication of community leaders, Fresno County’s youngest readers now have access to an incredible resource that will shape their future.
If you have little ones at home—or know someone who does—spread the word! Signing up is one of the easiest (and most impactful) ways to set a child on the path to success.
📚✨ Let’s turn the page on a new chapter for literacy in Fresno!
🔗 Learn More & Enroll: Lighthouse for Children – Imagination Library
I love where I live, and I also love what I do. I'm lucky to be able to work in a profession in which I get to build relationships; one that has me meeting new people each and every day and helping them to build new lives in my beloved city. I'm lucky enough to work in a profession in which I can marry cutting-edge technologies and marketing techniques to good, old-fashioned, nose-to-the-grindstone work. I am lucky enough to work in a profession that allows me to work as an advocate for my clients; to use every tool at my disposal to get a job done well for them, and with as little stress and expense as possible.
I love my city. I love my job. One inspires my excellence for the other.
Fresno? I say FresYES
Leave a Reply