Check out our Facebook page for photos of the event!

We Advance Early Learning

Our community needs to help support our youngest learners. Only 40% of local children enter kindergarten with the skills they need to succeed. Reading together is the number one thing parents can do to help their children prepare for kindergarten.

Supporting Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is a powerful way to make that lasting impact on the lives of the children in our community. Children who read early in life are better prepared for kindergarten, and more likely to graduate high school. Listen to a mom who is part of the program and how it has impacted her children.

Check out our sponsorship opportunities

For more sponsorship information, contact our Community Impact Director, Asta Bonheyo

We Enhance Student Success

In 2021-2022 United Way of Benton & Franklin Counties launched a program to provide mentoring to chronically absent middle school students. This program decreases chronic absenteeism and increases engagement at school. The program serves students of all backgrounds and socioeconomic statuses, with a focus on students who have historically been underserved. The program currently mentors 250+ local students inside 9 local middle schools.

Our AmeriCorps members provide caring adult connections through lunchtime activities, individual or small-group check-ins, and targeted in-class support. Listen to their personal experiences and how the program impacts our local kids.

Check out our sponsorship opportunities

For more sponsorship information, contact our Community Impact Director, Asta Bonheyo

100,000 Books Shipped in December!

Dolly Parton's Imagination Library

This month, we achieved a significant milestone in our efforts to promote early literacy and get children ready for kindergarten: over 100,000 books have been mailed to over 7,400 local children since we partnered with Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library two years ago. Every child enrolled in the Imagination Library receives a high quality, age-appropriate book in the mail each month until their 5th birthday. While the program is free to registered families, the local cost is $20 per child. Donate today to help send more books to local children.

Do you have a story about one of our programs? Please share your experience and we might feature it in one of our upcoming newsletters!

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OUR MISSION