At Oshkosh Area United Way (OAUW), we believe every child deserves the joy of opening a book, turning the pages, and getting lost in a story. That’s why, since 2008, we’ve been proud to bring Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library to families in Southern Winnebago County, giving kids from birth to age five a free book in the mail every month.
If you’ve never heard of the Imagination Library, here’s how it works: a child gets a high-quality, age-appropriate book delivered to their home every single month—for free. It’s a simple, powerful way to help kids build a home library of their very own, giving them books they can revisit anytime, helping develop early literacy skills, and nurturing a lifelong love for reading.
How It All Comes Together
The Dollywood Foundation takes care of the big stuff: selecting the books, printing, and shipping. Because they purchase books in bulk, what would normally cost around $14 per book is reduced to just $2.60 per book. That’s where local partners like OAUW come in. We cover the cost of books and mailing for kids in our community.
In 2024 alone, OAUW invested over $45,000 to send books to more than 1,600 kids in Oshkosh, Omro, Winneconne, and beyond. And here’s the best part: we do it for about $3 per child per month. Talk about a small investment with a huge impact.
For 30 years, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, with the help of partners like Oshkosh Area United Way, has provided free books to young children, fostering a love for reading and learning that lasts a lifetime.
Houa Xiong holds a selection of popular book titles from the Imagination Library, a program that helped spark her children’s love for reading.
Why This Program Matters
The research is clear—kids who grow up with books in their homes:
- Build stronger language skills
- Do better in school
- Develop a lifelong love of learning
Many Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library books also include parent engagement prompts to make storytime even more meaningful. Inside the book, families will find helpful suggestions like “Starting Up,” “Reading the Story,” and “After the Story” to guide interaction. These prompts encourage parents to ask questions, spark discussions, and connect the story to their child’s own experiences, helping build language skills, comprehension, and a deeper love of reading. Whether it’s pointing out pictures, making predictions, or talking about favorite parts after the book is finished, these small moments of engagement can make a big impact on a child’s literacy development.
For many families, this program has had a lasting impact beyond early childhood.
“When my sons participated in Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, I did not realize the impact the free, monthly book subscription program would have on their passion for reading and successful academic careers.”
~ Houa Xiong, Dean of Students, UWO & OAUW Board Member
Watch Houa share her story here: https://bit.ly/OAUWLiteracyHoua
Early reading experiences shape a child’s future, building the foundation for learning and success. When kids develop a love for books, the possibilities are endless.
Keeping the Pages Turning
A few states have pitched in to help fund the program, but some are now scaling back, asking local funders to cover even more of the cost. Here in Wisconsin, the Department of Children and Families (DCF) stepped up in 2024 by offering a grant of up to $10,000 to help local nonprofits like ours cover book costs. OAUW applied and is waiting to hear back—fingers crossed.
But no matter what, this program will always depend on local support. We couldn’t do it without generous individuals and sponsors, including The Savides Group, Baird Private Wealth Management, and the Mildred M. and Edward W. Barr Youth and Education Fund of the Oshkosh Area Community Foundation. Their support ensures that more than 1,600 children will continue receiving books in the mail each month, building their love for reading from the very start.
How You Can Help (Or Sign Up!)
Want to support this program? Every donation helps keep books landing in mailboxes and little hands turning pages. Just $36 sponsors a child for an entire year—that’s 12 books, 12 months of excitement, and a foundation for lifelong learning.
Want to help? Donate to Oshkosh Area United Way today: https://bit.ly/OAUWImaginationLibrary
Have a child under five? Sign them up to receive free books every month through Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. Register here: https://bit.ly/OAUWImagination
Thanks to supporters like you, we can keep sending books, sparking imaginations, and making sure every child gets the best possible start in life.
Watch Houa share her story here: https://bit.ly/OAUWLiteracyHoua
Early reading experiences shape a child’s future, building the foundation for learning and success. When kids develop a love for books, the possibilities are endless.
Keeping the Pages Turning
A few states have pitched in to help fund the program, but some are now scaling back, asking local funders to cover even more of the cost. Here in Wisconsin, the Department of Children and Families (DCF) stepped up in 2024 by offering a grant of up to $10,000 to help local nonprofits like ours cover book costs. OAUW applied and is waiting to hear back—fingers crossed.
But no matter what, this program will always depend on local support. We couldn’t do it without generous individuals and sponsors, including The Savides Group, Baird Private Wealth Management, as well as the Robert W. and Susan T. Brown Family Foundation and the Mildred M. and Edward W. Barr Youth and Education Fund, both part of the Oshkosh Area Community Foundation. Their support ensures that more than 1,600 children will continue receiving books in the mail each month, building their love for reading from the very start.
How You Can Help (Or Sign Up!)
Want to support this program? Every donation helps keep books landing in mailboxes and little hands turning pages. Just $36 sponsors a child for an entire year—that’s 12 books, 12 months of excitement, and a foundation for lifelong learning.
Want to help? Donate to Oshkosh Area United Way today: https://bit.ly/OAUWImaginationLibrary
Have a child under five? Sign them up to receive free books every month through Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. Register here: https://bit.ly/OAUWImagination
Thanks to supporters like you, we can keep sending books, sparking imaginations, and making sure every child gets the best possible start in life.