Students at University School of Jackson voted to give to the Imagination Library of Madison County, and the school's student council handed over a check at an assembly on Monday, Nov. 2, according to WBBJ.
The presentation
WBBJ reported that the check was presented during a school assembly, with the program's CEO and local board members on hand. WBBJ quoted a speaker saying that most USJ students have benefited from the Madison County chapter of the Imagination Library, that it has helped their reading, and that the students wanted to help. The report did not give the amount of the donation.
What the program does
The Imagination Library mails a free, age-appropriate book each month to children from birth to age five. WBBJ reported that the Madison County chapter has been active since 2005, now serves about 4,500 children and has delivered more than 900,000 books over the years. In a September report, WBBJ put the running total at 902,698 books.
How it is paid for
Families pay nothing. According to WBBJ's September report, the program in Tennessee is a public-private partnership among the Dollywood Foundation, the Governor's Early Literacy Foundation, the State of Tennessee and local partners in all 95 counties. The Dollywood Foundation handles book selection, purchasing and fulfillment. With state financial support, the Governor's Early Literacy Foundation covers 50 percent of book and mailing costs statewide, and local partners such as the Madison County chapter raise the other 50 percent, enroll children and build awareness.
That local share is why gifts from groups like the USJ student council matter. The chapter says a $30 sponsorship provides one child with a new book every month for a year.
How to help
WBBJ listed several ways to get involved: give to the program, enroll a child from birth to age five, volunteer locally, or simply read together with a child. More information is posted on the Facebook page Imagination Library Madison County.
Sources: WBBJ, with background from WBBJ's September report on the Madison County Imagination Library