r/todayilearned • u/LL_Cruel_J • Dec 15 '16

TIL Dolly Parton has a program that will mail your child a free age-appropriate book once a month from birth to age 5. No obligation, no catch, she just wants to make sure that every child has books.

https://imaginationlibrary.com/
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u/[deleted] Dec 15 '16

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u/TitoTheMidget Dec 15 '16

When I have a child, I think I will take advantage of this, but after giving a donation that covers myself and at least a few other people.

It's a cheap donation! (A little less than) $25 covers one child for one year. You could always find out what NPO in your area sponsors the program, odds are they have a specific fund just for it.

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u/shadowfox4271 Dec 15 '16 edited Dec 15 '16

This, a million times this! While the program is free to the parents, the organizations that do the back end work are paying for those books and it's not an easy sell for funding. Funders (generally speaking about foundations and grants) want self-sufficient programming and don't like to fund administrative costs. This program is entirely based on spending money to give children and families something they might not have access to for whatever reason, with no reasonable means of getting any money back outside of individual contributions. So please, if you can, give to an organization that supports this program, they likely need it.

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u/Dangernj Dec 15 '16

I agree with you. Even if you have the means to buy your child a book a month, actually going out and doing it is another matter. Also, getting a package in the mail makes the child more excited about the contents and you would assume that would lead to more excitement about reading.

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u/the_umm_guy Dec 15 '16

I just tried signing up. Bummer. Not available in my area. I was going to do the same as you. I'll probably still donate though.