Take pictures with a Dolly Parton cardboard cutout at the Imagination Library. Photo courtesy of the Wabash County United Fund.

News Release

WABASH — Grow Wabash County is thrilled to be helping the Wabash County United Fund celebrate the successful first six months of Wabash’s chapter of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library on Friday, Nov.15.

To mark the occasion, Grow Wabash County will host a ribbon cutting ceremony at 4 p.m. on Nov.15.

“It is a humbling experience to see and celebrate a local organization like the Wabash County United Fund as they bring impactful programs like the Imagination Library to the community,” Chelsea Parson, project manager for development and marketing for Grow Wabash County, said. “Opportunities like this to put books into the hands of our youngest residents will surely pay ten- and even twenty-fold later on when these young readers become Wabash County’s future leaders, business owners and change-makers.”

Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is a book gifting program that sends quality, age-appropriate books free of charge to children from birth up to age five, regardless of a family’s income. The intention of the program is to encourage lifelong learning and early literacy skills, especially to households and communities that may not normally have access to such resources.

“Wabash County United Fund is honored to partner with Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library as the local partner and overseeing program operations and fundraising efforts to ensure all children birth to age five have access to the program at no cost to the families,” Kelli Dale, executive director for the Wabash County United Fund, said. “Promoting early childhood literacy aligns perfectly with Wabash County United Fund’s mission, and we look forward to seeing the positive impact this program will continue to have on our community.”

Since the Wabash program launched in June 2024, we have 592 children receiving books and 32 who have graduated. Families residing in Wabash County with children younger than five are encouraged to enroll each eligible child in the Imagination Library.

The ribbon cutting ceremony will begin at 4 p.m. on Friday, Nov.15, at the Wabash County United Fund Office, 73 West Canal Street in Wabash.

Following the event, guests will be invited to stick around for book giveaways, refreshments and pictures with a Dolly Parton cardboard cutout. Parents will also have the opportunity to sign their young readers up for the Imagination Library with onsite registration at the United Fund office during and after the event.