January can be slow, but Batavia United Way is changing that by celebrating Dolly Parton’s 80th Birthday Extravaganza with four community events.

The first is a week-long scavenger hunt designed to bring families into our local businesses while raising money for Batavia’s Dolly Parton Imagination Library, a monthly book-gifting program for children from birth to age five.

Participants can purchase “Good Golly, Where’s Dolly?” scavenger hunt sheets at Sturdy Shelter from January 17 through January 24, then follow clues to local businesses to find “Dolly” hiding inside. Participants can turn in their completed sheet on January 23 or 24 at Sturdy Shelter for a chance to win gift cards to participating businesses.

The next event is “Boots for Books” Line Dancing lessons with Studio D7. Attendees can channel their inner Dolly Parton and dress for a costume contest. Two sessions are available on January 23 at 6:30PM and 8:30PM at Sturdy Shelter. Register at the Batavia United Way’s website.

Kids can celebrate Dolly at the Batavia Public Library on January 2h from 10-11:30AM for a drop-in birthday party. Kids under age five can celebrate with crafts, games, a photo booth and more!  No registration required.  

Maybe trivia is more your speed? Head to Sturdy Shelter on January 24 at 7PM for Rockin’ Rhinestone Trivia with Oliver. Costumes will be encouraged at this free Dolly-inspired trivia. 

The team will have Dolly Parton–inspired raffle baskets packed with charm, comfort, and plenty of surprises.

The Dolly Parton Imagination Library is a widely researched program promoting early childhood development and literacy skills.  Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library was launched in 1995 by The Dollywood Foundation, providing free books to children in Parton’s home area of Sevier County, Tennessee.

Since launching, it has become the preeminent early childhood book-gifting program in the world. The flagship program of The Dollywood Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, has gifted over 200 million free books in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, and The Republic of Ireland. 

This is achieved through funding shared by The Dollywood Foundation and local community partners like Batavia United Way. The goal of the program is to inspire a love of books and reading among children. Children must be registered by a parent or guardian in order to receive the books. 

There is no charge to the participants to register or receive the books.  Age-appropriate books are mailed directly to the homes of registered children each month. 

Interested in sponsoring books for a neighbor in the community?  The cost to send monthly books to one child for one year is $31. For more information, click here.

Information provided by the Batavia United Way.

Please feel free to reach out to [email protected] with questions or comments.

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