Dolly Parton's Imagination Library United Way and the Imagination Library Hillsborough County Partnership launched an early literacy initiative to put books in the hands of young children, helping prepare them for kindergarten. Hillsborough County’s kindergarten class of 2011 – infants born on or after September 1, 2006 are eligible to participate in the program.  Parents can call 813-272-5017 to register their child.  Click here for registration information. Beginning with “The Little Engine That Could,” children receive an age-appropriate hard-cover book FREE each month from birth to age five. “Look Out Kindergarten, Here I Come” is the final book each child receives as they prepare to enter kindergarten. You can help spread early childhood literacy The Tampa Bay community can help support literacy and expose children to books early in life by sponsoring a child. A $30 donation provides a book a month for a year. A $150 donation supports a child for the entire five years of the program. Imagination Library History Dolly Parton began Imagination Library in her home state of Tennessee because she believed that income should not be a restriction for children to have books in their home. The popular initiative has since spread to hundreds of communities. The Dollywood Foundation funds administration costs for the program. Local Partners Hillsborough County’s Imagination Library program is a joint initiative by the Children’s Board of Hillsborough County Early Learning Coalition Healthy Start Coalition of Hillsborough County Hillsborough County Department of Children’s Services Hillsborough County Head Start/Early Head Start Hillsborough County Public Schools Hillsborough County, Public Library Cooperative United States Postal Services-Tampa United Way of Tampa Bay.

How to Donate There are two ways you can donate to the Imagination Library. 1. Online credit card  Your credit card payment will be processed by PayPal, one of the most trusted names in Internet-based credit card processing. Click Here. 2. Mail in your Donation If you prefer to donate by regular mail, please download our donations form, fill it out and mail it to United Way with your check. All donations are tax deductible. Your charitable receipt will come to you from the United Way of Tampa Bay.   Registration Form   Literacy Statistics Betty Tribble Volunteer Services 813.274.0908 Email: btribble@uwtb.org