United Way Blackhawk Region Invites Community to Give Like Dolly on September 25
New annual day of giving honors Dolly Parton's legacy while supporting children's literacy and expanding access to books for local families.
Every child deserves the opportunity to discover the joy of reading. On September 25, United Way Blackhawk Region invites residents, businesses, and community partners to turn that belief into action through Give Like Dolly Day, a new annual tradition established by The Dollywood Foundation to honor Dolly Parton's extraordinary generosity and lifelong commitment to children.
For more than 30 years, Dolly Parton's Imagination Library has helped put books into the hands and hearts of children around the world. Through the program, enrolled children receive a free, high-quality book delivered directly to their homes each month from birth to age five, helping families create meaningful reading experiences and build a foundation for lifelong learning.
Locally, Dolly Parton's Imagination Library has served 1,635 Rock County families, connecting young readers with books and helping create opportunities for children to learn, imagine, and grow.
Give Like Dolly Day provides an opportunity for the Blackhawk Region to build on that impact by supporting the local Imagination Library program and helping bring the joy of reading to more children.
A Community United Through the Power of Reading
Behind every book delivered is a network of donors, volunteers, local partners, and community members who believe that access to books can help children thrive.
On September 25, residents throughout Rock County and Northern Winnebago County are encouraged to celebrate Dolly's legacy by taking action in their own communities.
Community members can participate by:
● Making a gift: Donate $9.25, or any amount, to help sustain and expand access to Dolly Parton's Imagination Library.
● Sharing a story: Tell how the Imagination Library has made a difference for a child or family.
● Reading together: Spend time reading with a child and encourage a lifelong love of books.
● Spreading the word: Share Give Like Dolly Day with friends, family, coworkers, and local businesses to encourage community-wide support.
Every contribution helps strengthen the local program and creates opportunities to connect additional children and families with books.
Continuing Dolly's Legacy, One Book at a Time
Give Like Dolly Day is more than a single day of giving. It is an opportunity to recognize the community partnerships that make children's literacy possible and inspire continued investment in the next generation.
United Way Blackhawk Region encourages residents to join this collective effort and help build a community where more children have access to books, meaningful reading experiences, and opportunities to thrive.
Make a donation: https://fundraise.givesmart.com/form/CPOeBQ?vid=1sgaqr
Share your Imagination Library story: https://survey.alchemer.com/s3/8978593/1bf716d2aefc
About United Way Blackhawk Region
United Way Blackhawk Region brings people, organizations, and resources together to address local challenges and create opportunities for individuals and families throughout Rock County, Wisconsin, and northern Winnebago County, Illinois. Through community partnerships, strategic investments, and collective action, United Way works to strengthen the region and help more neighbors thrive.
About Dolly Parton's Imagination Library
Founded in 1995, Dolly Parton's Imagination Library is a book-gifting program dedicated to inspiring a love of reading by providing free, high-quality books to children from birth to age five. Through partnerships with local organizations and communities, the program helps families build home libraries and develop early literacy experiences.
Learn more at www.imaginationlibrary.com.