Governor Mike DeWine [ [link removed] ]
*FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:*
January 13, 2020 *MEDIA CONTACTS:*
Eve Mueller: 614-644-0957



Ohio First Lady Launches Ohio Governor's Imagination Library Program in Cuyahoga County

(CLEVELAND, Ohio)Ohio First Lady Fran DeWine announced the opening of the Ohio Governors Imagination Library (OGIL) todayin Cuyahoga County.

Any child from birth to age five can enroll to receive a free, newbook from the Ohio Governors Imagination Library every month.

I'm delighted thatCuyahoga Countys 75,000 children -- from birth to age five -- can now take advantage ofthebenefits of the Ohio Governors Imagination Library, said Ohio First Lady Fran DeWine. Cuyahoga County is our 55th Ohio county tooffer the Ohio Governor's Imagination Library Programcountywide, no matter where a child lives within that county. When we started thisjourney to create a statewide program to improve early childhood literacy, the Imagination Library was only available in pockets of Ohio and only countywide in 24 counties. We won't stop our work to expand until kids in all 88 counties of Ohio have the same opportunity."

Researchshowsthat book ownership can be a predictor of future academic success. In fact, studies have found that children with just 25 books in their home were more likely to complete an additional two years of education. Inspired by Ohio First Lady Fran DeWines passion for early childhood literacy, the Ohio Governors Imagination Library is a partnership with Dolly Partons Imagination Library to ensure children enter the classroom ready to succeed.

We are very pleased that every child can experience the joy and excitement of receiving their own brand new book in the mail every month, said Robert Paponetti, President & CEO of The Literacy Cooperative of Greater Cleveland. For the past several years, this wonderful program has been available in select communities in Cuyahoga County. Currently more than 10,000 children in Cuyahoga County are receiving books monthly. With this announcement, enrollment will increase exponentially as there are approximately 75,000 children under the age of five living in Cuyahoga County.

The Ohio Governors Imagination Library Program is working to ensure children in all 88 of Ohios counties can enroll in Ohio Governors Imagination Library in 2020 by providing a dollar for dollar funding match with each county that opens the OGIL to its residents. The Ohio General Assembly committed $5 million to the OGIL Program in thefiscal year 2020-2021 budget.

To enroll and learn more, visit www.OhioImaginationLibrary.org [ [link removed] ].




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