FRANKFORT, Ky. (Dec. 2, 2024) Today, Kentucky Association of Health Plans (KAHP) announced a $100,000 donation to Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library of Kentucky. The grant extends the Imagination Library’s work of providing free books to children from birth to age five throughout the Commonwealth.
First Lady Britainy Beshear spoke at an event at Paul Sawyier Public Library in Frankfort to recognize KAHP's generosity and the benefit of the Imagination Library to Kentucky's youngest citizens.
“I want to thank the Kentucky Association of Health Plans for their generous donation to our chapter of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. You are showing the true spirit of Team Kentucky – living out our values and taking care of all of our neighbors, especially our kids,” said First Lady Britainy Beshear. “Because of gifts like the one we’re celebrating today, every preschool child in our state can build their own library at no cost to their family. That’s 60 books just for them, all before they start kindergarten, and we know the positive impact will last throughout the rest of their lives.”
All Kentucky children can register for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library from birth until age 5. All books are age-appropriate and chosen to support the exact stages of literacy development for a child. When children enrolled in the Imagination Library have reached their fifth birthday and prepare for kindergarten, they will have mastered colors, shapes, numbers, and the basic literacy concepts to begin a lifetime of reading.
There is no cost to families and no deadline to register. “KAHP recognizes the profound impact that literacy has on the well-being of both the family and the child,” said Katherine Kington North, KAHP vice president of external affairs. “Health plans work for the best health outcomes for the children of Kentucky and we know that children who struggle with reading frequently face higher rates of anxiety and depression.”
Targeting enrollment for children who lack access to books will increase kindergarten readiness, improve social skills and build the foundation for a healthier life. Research shows that students who lack proficient reading skills by fourth grade are at a higher risk of struggling academically. Low literacy rates are also linked to other lasting consequences affecting our communities, such as poverty and crime. “We are thrilled by this generous donation from KAHP,” said JC Morgan, state director of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library of Kentucky. “Our goal is to reach as many children in Kentucky as possible. These funds will help us have a greater impact.”
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About Kentucky Association of Health Plans
Kentucky Association of Health Plans is the trade organization representing the Kentucky health insurance community. KAHP is a leader on issues that strengthen the accessibility, value, and quality of health care in the Commonwealth. Members include Aetna, Anthem, Care Source, Humana, Passport Health Plan by Molina Healthcare, United Health Group and Well Care. For more information visit: www.kahp.org or follow @kyhealthplans on X.
About Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library
Since launching in 1995, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library has become the world's preeminent early childhood book- gifting program. The flagship program of The Dollywood Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, has gifted over 250 million free books in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, and The Republic of Ireland. The Dollywood Foundation and local community or state partners fund free books. The Imagination Library mails over 3 million high- quality, age- appropriate books to children's homes monthly. Each child enrolled in the program receives one book monthly from birth to age 5 – at no cost to families. Dolly envisioned creating a lifelong love of reading and inspiring children to Dream More, Learn More, Care More, and Be More. The program’s impact has been widely researched, and results demonstrate its positive effects on early childhood development and literacy skills. Penguin Random House is the exclusive publisher of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. For more information, please visit ImaginationLibrary.com.
