Fox Valley United Way is pleased to announce 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 $100,000 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! Early literacy has been at the heart of our mission for many years, and this donation will amplify our impact in ways we could only dream of!”
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.
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Foundation president, Britten Follett says, “While the family no longer owns those businesses, our Foundation is committed to ensure every child has access to books. Partnering with Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library to provide books to every child born in Aurora and nearby cities, was a perfect opportunity for us to give back to the communities and team members who helped build the Follett businesses over the years and further our mission to deliver books to underserved communities.”
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.
“We are thrilled to bring the Imagination Library to every child in Aurora,” said Andi Drileck, Illinois State Director of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. “This generous support from Follett Educational Foundation is a testament to the power of community partnerships in fostering early childhood literacy and educational success.”
For more information on how to enroll your child, please visit www.foxvalleyunitedway.org/dolly-partons-imagination-library or https://imaginationlibrary.com/usa contact info@foxvalleyunitedway.org
—Fox Valley United Way