Funding the Gift of Reading
Powered by Our Community, Sponsored by the Buddy Publishing Foundation
The Imagination Library of Aurora is funded through the generosity of local community partners, donors, and organizations who believe in the power of early literacy. Each local affiliate is responsible for raising the funds needed to provide free, high-quality books to children in their area. In Aurora, the program is proudly sponsored by the Buddy Publishing Foundation, which helps ensure every enrolled child continues to receive a new book each month. The annual cost to support one child’s participation is just $31, covering the selection, shipping, and delivery of 12 age-appropriate books each year — all at no cost to families.
✨ You can make a difference! Sponsor a child today for just $31 and help spark a lifelong love of reading.
Give the Gift of Books & a Love of Reading
Help us keep the magic of reading alive for Aurora’s children! Your donation ensures that every child from birth to age five continues to receive free, high-quality books delivered right to their home each month.
The Imagination Library
The Imagination Library is a book gifting program that was initiated by Dolly Parton in 1995. It was first launched in Sevier County, Tennessee, where Parton was born, with the mission to foster a love of reading among preschool children and their families. The program was inspired by Parton's own father's inability to read and write, driving her to make a significant impact in the field of education and literacy.
Under the Imagination Library, registered children receive one free, high-quality, age-appropriate book each month from birth until they begin school, no matter their family's income. The books are mailed directly to the children's homes to encourage reading and parent-child engagement from a very early age.
Since its inception, the program has grown exponentially and has been replicated across the United States and in several other countries including the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, and the Republic of Ireland. The Imagination Library has gifted over 100 million books as of my last update, and it continues to pursue the goal of inspiring a love for reading in children everywhere. The success of the program lies in its ability to reach children during the crucial early years of development, providing them with the building blocks for improved literacy skills that are essential for their future academic and personal success.