Governor DeWine COVID-19 Banner [ [link removed] ]
*FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:*
December 9, 2020 *MEDIA CONTACTS:*
Dan Tierney: 614-644-0957
Eve Mueller: 614-644-0957



Ohio*First Lady Fran DeWine Encourages
**More Ohio Children to Enroll in the
**Imagination Library as New Documentary
**about Founder Premieres Tonight*

(COLUMBUS, Ohio)Ohio First Lady Fran DeWine encourages more Ohio children to enroll in Ohios Imagination Library Program as a new documentary about Imagination Library founder Dolly Parton premieres tonight. The Library That Dolly Built is a behind-the-scenes look at the Imagination Library Program country music singer Dolly Parton started in 1995 to encourage reading to preschool children.

In 2019, the Ohio Governors Imagination Library Program partnered with the Dolly Parton Imagination Library to spread the program throughout Ohio. Partnerships and funding have been established in each of Ohios 88 counties, so that all children who enroll from birth to age 5 can receive a free book in the mail each month to help accelerate their development.

Dolly Parton and her dedication to childrens literacy and this program is so inspiring, said Ohio First Lady Fran DeWine. We share a belief that the gift of reading is one of the best things you can give a child. We are proud of all the partners in Ohio that have ensured that every single eligible Ohio child can receive these books every month.

Ohio lawmakers provided $5 million in funding to match county funds so that these books ($2.10 each) are provided at no cost to Ohio families. Nonprofit organizations in each county administer the program.

Currently 255,672 Ohio children younger than age 5, or 35% of eligible children, receive the Ohio Governors Imagination Library books. Nearly 2 million children worldwide receive free monthly books from the Imagination Library.

The Library That Dolly Built will be featured at 7:00 p.m. (EST) tonight on Dolly Partons Imagination Library Facebook page: Facebook.com/dollysimaginationlibrary [ [link removed] ]. The screening will be followed by a conversation with, and an acoustic performance by, Parton.

For more information about the film, visitwww.imaginationlibrary.com/film [ [link removed] ]. To enroll children, parents and caregivers can sign up at OhioImaginationLibrary.org [ [link removed] ].


30


________________________________________________________________________

STAY CONNECTED: Visit us on Facebook [ [link removed] ] Visit us on Twitter [ [link removed] ] Visit us on YouTube [ [link removed] ] Visit us on Instagram [ [link removed] ]

SUBSCRIBER SERVICES:
Governor.Ohio.gov [ [link removed] ] | Unsubscribe [ [link removed] ]|Help [ [link removed] ]

________________________________________________________________________

This email was sent to [email protected] using GovDelivery Communications Cloud on behalf of: Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities 150 E. Campus View Blvd Columbus, Ohio 43235 GovDelivery logo [ [link removed] ]