The Kentucky Association of Health Plans KAHP has donated $100,000 to Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library of Kentucky to support its mission of providing free books to children from birth to age five across the state.
At an event held at the Paul Sawyer Library in Frankfort, First Lady Britainy Beshear thanked KAHP for its generous donation and highlighted how the Imagination Library benefits young children in Kentucky.
“I’m grateful to the Kentucky Association of Health Plans for their donation to Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. This shows the true spirit of Team Kentucky by caring for our neighbors, especially our kids, said First Lady Beshear. Thanks to gifts like this, every preschooler in Kentucky can get 60 books before starting kindergarten, at no cost to their families. This will have a positive impact on their lives for years to come.
Children in Kentucky can sign up for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library from birth to age five. The books are chosen to match each child’s age and help develop their reading skills.
By the time children turn five and get ready for kindergarten, they will have learned basic concepts like colors, shapes, and numbers. Families can register their children at any time, and there is no cost.
Katherine Kington North, vice president of KAHP, explained, We know that literacy is essential for a child’s well-being. Children who struggle with reading are more likely to face mental health challenges, including anxiety and depression.
Studies show that kids who can’t read well by fourth grade often struggle academically, and low literacy is connected to long-term problems like poverty and crime.
“We are excited about this generous donation, said JC Morgan, state director of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library of Kentucky. This will help us reach even more children in Kentucky.
ginationlibrary.com.