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What's next for Dolly Parton’s book program in McLean County

Two women pose for a photo in a radio studio
Ryan Denham
/
WGLT
Laura Kraynak, left, and Sonya Mau from Women United in the WGLT studios for an interview. Women United is offering a free copy of Dolly Parton’s new children’s book, called Billy The Kid Comes Home for Christmas, to the first 10 people who sign up for a Women United membership.

There was a lot of enthusiasm when Dolly Parton’s children’s literacy program first came to McLean County almost two years ago. Now, local organizers want to keep that momentum going.

Women United, an offshoot of the United Way of McLean County, brought Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library [DPIL] to this community in early 2023. Around 3,000 kids are currently signed up to get one book mailed to them every month until they turn 5. (800 kids have already aged out of the program.) 

“Childhood literacy is so incredibly important. And the coolest thing about this program is that it’s for everyone. It’s not based on a certain socioeconomic status or anything of that nature,” said Laura Kraynak from Women United. “It’s bringing a brand-new home library to families. I think a lot of kids don’t necessarily get that. There’s a lot of screen time these days. And childhood literacy is just really, really important to women, and especially Women United.” 

Kids are loving it – especially the novelty of getting something in the mail that’s just for them. 

“When we were children, we never got mail! And the moment we got mail with our name on it, we’d want to tear it open and look at it. And so that’s what happens when the books come,” said Sonya Mau, also from Women United. “I’m excited because I know this will affect early childhood literacy, and it will be with them – like all good memories of childhood – forever.” 

While the books are free for the kids, Women United needs to raise money to pay for them. It costs about $30 a year for each kid, meaning they want to raise around $90,000 annually. They initially got seed money from Corn Belt Energy, and are now looking for more funders. 

“Of course, when there was such excitement around the program, and so many kids signed up all at once, we went through that money pretty quickly,” said Laura Kraynak from Women United. 

Women United’s upcoming Power of the Purse fundraiser Feb. 27 will raise money for local DPIL efforts. Additional funding comes from United Way, plus Women United’s 2025 membership drive.

In fact, Women United is offering a free copy of Dolly Parton’s new children’s book, called Billy The Kid Comes Home for Christmas, to the first 10 people who sign up for a Women United membership. The book is about a music-loving French bulldog who comes home for Christmas. 

DPIL is also getting some help from the state of Illinois. Gov. JB Pritzker visited Bloomington a year ago to announce that $1.6 million investment to expand the program. Women United expects that to cover about half its costs. 

“That’s allowed us to sign up even more kids in a shorter amount of time, because they’re helping to fund part of the program. We, of course, hope that continues,” Kraynak said. 

Families can sign up their child online to receive a DPIL book every month or email dpil@uwaymc.org.

Ryan Denham is the digital content director for WGLT.