FORT WAYNE, Ind. (ADAMS) – The Allen County Public Library Foundation says it has received a $10,000 grant from the Dr. Louis and Anne B. Schneider Foundation in support of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library of Allen County, an early literacy program that provides free, high-quality books to children from birth to age five.
“In Allen County, there are nearly 26,000 children who qualify, and our goal is to raise enough funds that every one of them can benefit from this powerful program,” said ACPL Foundation Chairman Rich Beck. “Support from partners like the Dr. Louis and Anne B. Schneider Foundation is essential to ensuring long-term sustainability.”
ACPL representatives released the following:
The grant will help the ACPL Foundation continue to grow this critical initiative, which launched in Allen County in October 2024. Since its inception, more than 7,300 children have already been enrolled in the program, receiving a new book delivered directly to their homes each month.
In Allen County, the ACPL Foundation serves as the local affiliate, responsible for raising funds to cover the cost of books and mailing (approximately $31 per child per year). The library says it currently costs more than $15,000 per month. The program registers an average of 10 new children every day.
According to Beck, all Imagination Library donations are an investment in the future of Allen County: “Every time a book is delivered to a child, we’re increasing that child’s likelihood for economic and social success. We’re giving parents more tools to act as their child’s first teachers. We’re teaching children that learning is valuable and worthy of pursuit. That is the foundation on which Allen County’s future success will be built.”
To learn more or support the Imagination Library, CLICK HERE
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