Fresno County Supervisor Luis Chavez and Fresno City Councilmember Tyler Maxwell (center) announce the upcoming launch of the Dolly Parton Imagination Library in Fresno County. Photo by Dylan Gonzales

With the official launch of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, Fresno County will now have easier access to children’s books. 

The program will send free books to children from birth to age five beginning in April. There are an estimated 70,000 kids who would be eligible.

Fresno City Councilmember Tyler Maxwell officially announced the initiative Thursday afternoon at the Dakota Circle Head Start near Granite Park.

Maxwell explained why having its official launch at Head Start was fitting.

“Head Start is a phenomenal program,” Maxwell said. “It targets children ages zero to five, which is the same population that we’re trying to target with the Dolly Parton Imagination Library. And it’s a lot of children who might be facing adversity at home.”

The campaign started last spring when representatives from the Imagination Library estimated the cost of getting the program running at $800,000. Maxwell initially viewed this as a daunting number to reach. 

“I thought this was dead on arrival because that’s a lot of money to raise,” Maxwell said. 

Despite the challenge of raising $800,000, Maxwell was confident the community would succeed.

“Maybe it’ll take us eight months. Maybe it’ll take us a year to raise that money, but we’re gonna get it done because this is really important to so many children,” Maxwell added. 

The fundraising goal became more attainable after Republic Sen. Shannon Grove’s matching-fund bill cut the amount in half. In addition to Grove’s bill, Senate Bill 1183, the program also received help from several local businesses: $50,000 from Valley Children’s Healthcare, $20,000 from PG&E, $20,000 from the Fresno County Superintendent of Schools, $20,000 from CalViva Health, $10,000 from Producers Dairy, and more, according to a news release. 

Maxwell was pleased with how both political parties united to support the program. 

“This just goes to show how important our children’s success is to so many people. Whether you’re Republican or Democrat, this is an important issue,” Maxwell said.

On Thursday, Indiana media reported that the latest version of the state budget didn’t include money for the Imagination Library. The legislature approved $6 million in funding for two years of the program in 2023. 

Officials for the Dollywood Foundation, which runs the program, were hopeful Gov. Mike Braun and the Indiana Legislature would restore the funding match for the program, which funds more than 60,000 children, reported the Indianapolis Star.

The program will be continuous, with First 5 Fresno, a government program supporting early childhood development from prenatal to age five, taking over day-to-day operations. 

“This incredible program will put books directly into the hands of children and their families, igniting the opportunity for reading at home from an early age and unlocking doors to more possibilities,” said Fresno County Supervisor Luis Chavez, chair of the Lighthouse for Children Board and First 5 Fresno County Commission. “Together, we’re laying the foundation for a future filled with learning, imagination, and success.” 

After announcing the launch, Maxwell read “The Little Engine That Could” to the parents and children in attendance. 

Parents can enroll at the Lighthouse for Children website.