In a significant boost for early childhood literacy, First Lady Susan Gianforte announced today that the United Way of Yellowstone County will serve as the local program partner for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library in the county. This non-profit initiative aims to provide free, high-quality, age-appropriate books to children in Montana, fostering a love for reading from a young age.
First Lady Gianforte expressed her enthusiasm for the partnership, noting United Way’s extensive knowledge of the community and its commitment to enhancing early literacy efforts. She emphasized that their collaboration will help ensure that more books reach Montana’s children.
The announcement follows a statewide expansion of the Imagination Library in Montana, which was unveiled in June 2023 by First Lady Gianforte and Dolly Parton. The program allows any Montana child aged 0 to 5 years to receive a free book each month by registering at imaginationlibrary.com.
As the local program partner, United Way of Yellowstone County will be responsible for enrolling children and implementing marketing and outreach strategies to inform families about the initiative. With this partnership, United Way becomes the 64th local program partner in Montana, joining a network that currently serves over 24,000 children statewide.
The First Lady’s initiatives also focus on promoting STEM education, particularly for girls and students in rural areas, further supporting the goal of empowering Montana’s youth through education.
By: DNU staff