Dolly Parton Imagination Library Program Celebrates Graduation Event at Saint Francis University
Loretto, PA (10/23/2023) — On October 17, Saint Francis University proudly hosted the Dolly Parton Imagination Library Program Graduation Event, celebrating the success of 462 children who have successfully graduated from the program. The event, collaboratively organized by education faculty and students, aimed to recognize the achievements of young learners in Cambria County and promote the crucial importance of early literacy development.
The Dolly Parton Imagination Library Program, currently supporting 2,400 enrolled children, has been instrumental in fostering a love for reading within households. Over the last two years, the program has effectively bridged the learning gap, motivating families to engage in early literacy activities and preparing children for kindergarten.
Event Highlights:
- Recognition of Graduates: The graduation event served as a platform to acknowledge and celebrate the accomplishments of children who successfully completed the program.
- Graduation Awards: Graduating students received special graduation awards, symbolizing their journey through the Imagination Library Program.
- Future Opportunities: Graduates were extended invitations to participate in upcoming SFU camps, providing them with continued educational experiences.
- Exit Surveys: Graduates were encouraged to fill out exit surveys, designed to gather valuable insights into the impact and effectiveness of the Imagination Library Program.
The success of the Dolly Parton Imagination Library Program at SFU has been made possible through the generous contributions of sponsors, including Saint Francis University Graduate Education Department, Brother Shamus, the Dorothy Day Foundation, 1889 Foundation, and various community donations.
The Dolly Parton Imagination Library Program came to Saint Francis University in September 2021. The flagship program of The Dollywood Foundation provides every family residing in the county with children from birth until age 5 the opportunity to register for a monthly book-gifting program. The Dolly Parton Imagination Library Program at Saint Francis University remains committed to nurturing a passion for reading, fostering early literacy development, and creating a foundation for academic success in the lives of Cambria County's young learners.
About Dolly Parton's Imagination Library
Since launching in 1995, Dolly Parton's Imagination Library has become the preeminent early childhood book gifting program in the world. The flagship program of The Dollywood Foundation has gifted well over 150 million free books in Australia, Canada, The Republic of Ireland, United Kingdom and the United States. The Imagination Library mails more than 1.8 million high-quality, age-appropriate books each month to registered children from birth to age five. Dolly envisioned creating a lifelong love of reading, inspiring them to dream. The impact of the program has been widely researched and results suggest positive increases in key early childhood literacy metrics. Penguin Random House is the exclusive publisher for Dolly Parton's Imagination Library. For more information, please visit imaginationlibrary.com.
Saint Francis University in Loretto, PA, is the oldest Catholic-Franciscan college in the United States. Its mission is to help students grow into compassionate, successful professionals through a culture of faith, generosity, respect, discovery, and joy. Saint Francis University offers traditional campus-based learning and competitive online and graduate degree offerings.
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Graduates of the Dolly Parton Imagination Program at Saint Francis University attended their graduation ceremony on October 17. Pictured left to right: Gavin Brown and Ryder Kline.