Access to high-quality early education and literacy supports are critical in setting children up for long-term success. Studies show: 

• 90% of physical brain development occurs in the first three years of life, when a baby forms over 1 million new neural connections per second.
• 61% of low-income families have no books at all in their homes for their children.
• 50% of children from low-income communities start first grade up to two years behind their peers.
• 1 in 6 children who are not reading proficiently in their grade do not graduate on time.
• Children who are read to at least three times per week by a family member are almost twice as likely to score in the top 25% in reading compared to children who are read to less than three times per week.
• When a young child enters kindergarten ready for school, there is an 82% chance that the child will master basic skills by age 11, compared with a 45% chance for children who are not school-ready.

Locally, United Way of Sheboygan County has identified the 53081 ZIP code as an area of greatest need for additional early literacy supports in our community: 

• At public schools in the 53081 ZIP code, 60% of 3rd graders read below grade level, compared to 47% statewide. Third grade reading proficiency is a critical predictor of high school graduation rates. Without intervention, these gaps compound over time, limiting future opportunities.
• 39% of households in Sheboygan’s 53081 ZIP code are “below the ALICE threshold” and struggling to afford basic needs like food, housing, child care and medicine. For these families, purchasing books simply isn’t possible.
• Research shows that children need access to at least 100 books in the home in their early years to set the foundation for school success. According to Unite for Literacy, our community has “below average” access to affordable books, making it a “book desert” where too many children grow up without a home library.
• An “Interested Parents & Children” report from the Dollywood Foundation indicates a total of 87 parents/114 children residing in the 53081 ZIP code have inquired about the availability of DPIL.

Inspired by her father’s inability to read and write, Dolly started her Imagination Library in 1995 for the children within her home county of Sevier, Tennessee. Dolly’s vision was to foster a love of reading among her county’s preschool children and their families by providing them with the gift of a specially selected book each month, from birth to 5 years old. Today, her international program spans five countries, received numerous Awards and Milestones, and gifts over 3 million free, high-quality, age-appropriate books each month to children around the world.

There is never a charge to families who participate in the program, and it is open to all children under the age of five, in geographic areas with operating programs. This program builds essential early literacy skills, promotes parent-child bonding, and lays the foundation for school success—regardless of a family’s income or background. By mailing books directly to the family’s home, the program helps eliminate transportation and scheduling barriers that prevent some of a community’s most vulnerable families from accessing free books through libraries and other services.

Several studies have demonstrated the benefits of Dolly Parton's Imagination Library:

• Families receiving books through DPIL reported that they increased reading with their children by 38%.
• 75% of teachers believed that DPIL graduates performed better in school than their peers.
• 97% of parents believed that their child will be better prepared for school after having participated in DPIL.

Here's how it works:

• A parent or guardian enrolls their child in the program.
• In 6-8 weeks, the child receives their first book, specifically addressed to them, in the mail.
• A personalized book arrives in the mail each month until the child's fifth birthday. 

The program utilizes a collaborative model: The Dollywood Foundation handles the administrative lift of book selection and coordinating the monthly book order and fulfillment (at heavily discounted bulk pricing), while local partners (UWSC) promote the program and build local awareness, enroll children and fundraise to cover the cost of books and mailing.

United Way is leading the effort to bring this incredible program to Sheboygan County, and we plan to initially launch the program in the 53081 ZIP code in early 2026. With your support, we can inspire a love of reading for all children in our community!

For more information about the program on a national or global level, please visit The Dollywood Foundation's About Dolly Parton's Imagination Library Page.

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United Way of Sheboygan County is currently raising startup funds to launch Dolly Parton's Imagination Library in the 53081 ZIP code. In the unlikely event insufficient funds are raised to launch the program, all designated funds donated will be allocated to the Dollywood Foundation to support the national-level program. Any donors to the Sheboygan County program will receive notification of the change and the option to allocate their dollars to a different local program.