2014 ROTARY INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION

Support Early Literacy by Working with the Dolly Parton Imagination Library

• DG Garry Browne, District 9675 – moderator

• Christy Crouse, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library Regional Director - Panelist

• PDG Juliet Riseley, District 9810 – Panelist

• Jenny Riley, Head of Community Impact at United Way Australia - Panelist

Presenters

• Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library overview

• Imaginational Library Australia: Dollywood Foundation, Rotary, and United Way partnership

• Partnership in Action: program expansion and replication in your local community

• Questions

Agenda

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Christy Crouse | Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library: Promoting Social Change One Book at a Time

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Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library | History

• Developed in 1995 by Dolly for her hometown of Sevier County, Tennessee, USA

• Inspires a love of reading

• Guarantees all children will have quality books in the home

• A program about inspiration and imagination

Tribute to her father

A way to give back to her

hometown of Sevier

County, TN

Imagination Library

Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library | Operations

• DWF partnerships promote literacy and serve children

• Children receive a free monthly book from birth to age 5

• Books are delivered by postal mail, personally addressed to children

• Books are age appropriate and customized for the program

Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library | Research Driven

• Reading aloud to children has long lasting positive impacts

• Correlation between reading to preschoolers and language development, high school readiness, family bonding, and community bonding

Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library | Current Stats

• Over 56 million books have been mailed since 1996

• 1,400 Imagination Library programs operate in four countries

• 720,000 children receive an Imagination Library book each month

Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library | Partnership Support

Rotary and United Way Support is VitalOver 300 Rotary clubs and United Way agencies chamption the Imagination Library in four countires

Partners’ Primary Support:• Financial• Participant Database• Early Education Advocacy

and Strategy• Registration

Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library

“If books make kids feel special then kids will feel the books are special” – Dolly Parton

Juliet Riseley | Imagination Library Australia: a partnership between Rotary, United Way, and The Dollywood Foundation

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Partnership Formation

“‘Begin at the beginning,' the King said gravely, 'and go on till you come to the end: then stop’"

Partnership Precedent

"Every adventure requires a first step. Trite but true, even here"

Greater Impact through Partnership

“‘I could tell you my adventures — beginning from this morning,' said Alice a little timidly: 'but it's no

use going back to yesterday, because I was a different person then’"

Components for Successful Partnership Expansion

“Alice – ‘Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?’‘That depends a good deal on where you want to get to,’ said the Cat.”

Program Impact

Measureable and proven program impact

Jenny Riley | Imagination Library Australia: Impact and Expansion

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Imagination Library Australia | Launch

Leading the way to a more literate and successful Australia

July 2014 – June 20143 clubs

4 communities 12 months

220 children

2000 books

Imagination Library Australia | 5 Year Goal

July 2014 – June 201930 clubs

40 communities 5 years

20,000 children

100,000 books

Imagination Library Australia | Pioneers

Rotary District 9810• Rotary Club of Noble Park (July 2013) – 100

children, 784 books• Rotary Club of Healesville (Dec 2013) – 21

children, 38 books

Rotary District 9670• Rotary Club of Corrimal (Feb 2014) – 67 children,

107 books

Imagination Library Australia | Club support

• Advocacy: sign up days, reading mornings• Publicity: media attention about the program and

importance of books and reading to young children

• Fund raising: Lord Mayor’s Trust $5k in Noble Park

• Partnerships: connected local partners (ie: Paint the Gong REaD)

• Mobilisation: Mobilised community, business, and local government around early education and literacy in Australia

Imagination Library Australia | Implementation

• Clubs “sign up” to run a local Imagination Library• Raise 3 months worth of funds to cover books (ie:

$1,800)• Print sign up forms for participants to register for

the program• Sign up children and parents!

Imagination Library Australia | Implementation, continued

United Way Australia/The Dollywood Foundation’s roles• Information Packs (pick one up today!)• Getting Started Packs• Fundraising Pack• Sign up Forms• Promotional material• Book Ordering Training• Access to a vast network across Australia:

Facebook, phone hook up, annual meetings• Ongoing support from a dedicated Dolly Parton

Imagination Library Coordinator

Expanding and replicating the Imagination Library program

How can you help?

Take up the challenge to CHAMPION an Imagination Library in your community:

• Lead the way to literacy• Use your local knowledge and networks• Get people involved in the program• Improve your community

Questions?

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Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library Booth in the Billabong House of Friendship Booth 116

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