Fresno is one step closer to launching Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, with $380,000 raised toward the program that aims to provide free books to children from birth to age five.

On Thursday, Fresno City Councilmember Tyler Maxwell and County Supervisor Brian Pacheco announced $73,000 in new funding, leaving just $20,000 needed to launch the program in Fresno County.

“When our children succeed, our city succeeds,” said Maxwell. “Every child enrolled in this program will receive up to 60 free books by the time they start kindergarten, helping to ensure their educational success. They say it takes a village to raise a child and so many great people and organizations across Fresno have stood up to the occasion to turn this wonderful program into a reality.”

Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library

Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, an initiative designed to boost childhood literacy and family bonding, mails age-appropriate books to children at no cost to families.

Last year, California lawmakers passed Senate Bill 1183, introduced by Sen. Shannon Grove (R-Bakersfield), enabling the program to expand statewide with a dollar-for-dollar match for local funding. The city of Fresno contributed $225,000 in November to jumpstart the countywide effort.

Pacheco, who also serves as Lighthouse for Children board chair, emphasized the importance of early literacy.

“As a former Kerman School Board member, education is near and dear to me because I know literacy at an early age is foundational for success in school and in life,” he said. “To those that have stepped up to help launch the Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library locally, I say thank you, and I encourage others in our community to help bring this effort to the finish line.”

Major contributions have come from the city of Fresno, Valley Children’s Healthcare, Producers Dairy, and other community partners.

“Raising the next generation is a shared responsibility, so I am deeply grateful for our community’s commitment to ensure children in Fresno County grow up with books in their homes! Together, we can inspire a lifelong love of reading to set a strong foundation for learning – let’s make it happen!” Said Fabiola González, executive director of Lighthouse for Children, Inc.

Fresno County is home to more than 70,000 children under the age of five, all eligible for the program. Donations can be made online at LFCfresno.org/DPIL or by sending checks to Lighthouse for Children, Inc.

Since its inception in 1995, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library has distributed over 250 million books worldwide, fostering a love of reading and early education in millions of children.

For more information, visit imaginationlibrary.com.