State Budget Proposal Drops Imagination Library Funding
Proposed Indiana budget cuts threaten program for more than 10,000 children in St. Joseph County
Since launching Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library in St. Joseph County, the Community Foundation has helped to deliver more than 750,000 books to local children, encouraging early literacy and fostering a love of reading. The program has served nearly 25,000 children across St. Joseph County since its inception in May 2018.
In 2023, Indiana wisely approved funding to encourage expansion of this wonderful program statewide. By covering half the cost for enrolled children to receive a beautiful book by mail every month, enrollment has grown to over 60,000 Hoosier children under the age of 5.
Surprisingly, the House’s new proposed budget drops State support to zero. This will discourage further expansion of the program and cause some counties that offered the program in response to State support to scale back.
“For only about one dollar per child per month, Indiana found a brilliant way to support our collective efforts to enroll every little Hoosier child in this beautiful program,” says Rose Meissner, president of the Community Foundation of St. Joseph County. “It fosters an early love of books and reading. We urge the State to continue this excellent investment in the future of our children.”
Research has shown that the program is effective in promoting early literacy skills and positively impacting children’s academic outcomes, with several studies indicating that participants are more likely to perform at grade level than non-participants.
Please join the Community Foundation of St. Joseph County in urging our Indiana legislators to restore funding for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library:
David Niezgodski (Senate District 10)
(800) 382-9467 // Send a message
Linda Rogers (Senate District 11)
(800) 382-9467 // Send a message
Dale Devon (House District 5)
(800) 382-9841 // Email h5@iga.in.gov
Maureen Bauer (House District 6)
(800) 382-9842 // Email h6@iga.in.gov
Jake Teshka (House District 7)
(800) 382-9841 // Email h7@iga.in.gov
Ryan Dvorak (House District 8)
(800) 382-9842 // Email h8@iga.in.gov