Photo contributed
Written by Dylan Gonzales
Fresno County is closing in on its $400,000 goal to launch the Dolly Parton Imagination Library.
Fresno City Councilmember Tyler Maxwell and County Supervisor Brian Pacheco hosted a fundraiser on Dec. 17 that raised $73,000.
With the success of the fundraiser. Fresno County is only $20,000 away from the $400,000 needed.
In November, Maxwell announced that the City of Fresno contributed $225,000 to help jumpstart the campaign.
According to the news release highlighting the fundraiser, the Dolly Parton Imagination Library would “provide an age-appropriate, high-quality book each month to registered children from birth to age five at no cost to the family.”
Maxwell stressed the importance of bringing a program like this to Fresno in the release.
“When our children succeed, our city succeeds,” Maxwell said. “Every child enrolled in this program will receive up to 60 free books by the time they start kindergarten, helping to ensure their educational success. They say it takes a village to raise a child and so many great people and organizations across Fresno have stood up to the occasion to turn this wonderful program into a reality.”
The release mentioned some of the other large-amount donors in addition to the fundraiser and the city’s initial contribution, highlighting Valley Children’s Healthcare, Producers Dairy, Fresno County Superintendent of Schools, Pacific Gas & Electric Company and local leaders including Fresno Councilmember and recently elected County Supervisor Garry Bredefeld, Fresno City Employees Association among other supporters.
Donations can be made on the Lighthouse for Children website.