Fox Valley United Way announced a significant commitment to support Dolly Parton's Imagination Library in Aurora and nearby cities in Kane County with a donation from Follett Educational Foundation.

A $100K foundation grant has been established to ensure that every child from birth to age five in Aurora, North Aurora, Geneva, St. Charles, Elburn, Sugar Grove, Maple Park, Big Rock, Hinckley, and South Elgin can benefit from this renowned early childhood literacy program. 

“We are incredibly grateful for the generous funding from Follett,” said Lisa Foydel, Director of Community Engagement at Fox Valley United Way. “This will create an extraordinary opportunity to share the magic of the Imagination Library children throughout our service area.”

This new initiative aligns with the Follett Educational Foundation’s mission to ensure a lasting impact on education and literacy. For 150 years, the Follett family-owned businesses in the Chicagoland area existed to get books into the hands of kindergarten through higher education students nationwide.

This donation ensures that over 20,000 children in Aurora and nine cities in nearby Kane County from birth to age 5 can receive a free, high-quality book each month. This universal access will help bridge any economic or social gaps, providing all children with the opportunity to develop a love for reading.

The funding will enable Fox Valley United Way to administer the program's implementation, including enrolling children, processing sign-ups, and ensuring the books reach the intended recipients. 

For more information on how to enroll your child, please visit Fox Valley United Way or Imagination Library. www.foxvalleyunitedway.org/dolly-partons-imagination-library or imaginationlibrary.com/usa.

📖 Thanks for reading

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

Not signed up yet? Subscribe here.