Whitewater Leads, a literacy program led by board members composed of representatives from Whitewater’s city, university, school district and business communities, has announced that it will be expanding its offerings to the area’s children, with a goal of promoting literacy.

According to information released by the organization, through its six-year partnership with the Dolly Parton Imagination Library, a national literacy initiative, the group has given away more than 24,000 free books to children ages birth to 5.  

Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library notes on its website that the program was begun in 1995, with the distribution of books to children living in Sevier County, Tenn., which, the website states, is where Parton grew up. With the success of the program, a national replication effort was undertaken in 2000, with one million books mailed by 2003. As of 2022, the organization has mailed books “around the world,” according to its website, with efforts launched in Canada in 2006, the United Kingdom in 2007, Australia in 2013, and the Republic of Ireland in 2019.

In a letter to viewers published on the Imagination Library website, Parton wrote: “Before he passed away, my Daddy told me the Imagination Library was probably the most important thing I had ever done.”

Parton noted that she created the library as a tribute to her father, whom she described as “the smartest man I have ever known, but I know in my heart his inability to read probably kept him from fulfilling all of his dreams.”

According to the Whitewater Leads’ website, its mission is to “support literacy, in all of its diverse forms, throughout and within the boundaries of the Whitewater Unified School District.

Last school year, the release stated, an increase in donations to the organization enabled it to provide four elementary school literacy grants.

During the 2022-23 school year, the grant recipients were Lincoln Elementary School kindergarten teacher Shannon Frye, Lincoln Elementary School reading interventionist Lisa Kaminski, Washington Elementary School fifth-grade teacher Jill Whitney, and Lincoln Elementary School fourth-grade teacher Jacquie Sedmak.

Describing within the release her use of grant money, Frye was quoted as saying: “The Whitewater Leads grant allowed me to purchase Boogie Boards to be used in the classroom. The Boogie Boards allow students to write, draw, and trace on an easy-to-use and clean device.” She noted the board as a welcomed addition to her classroom.  

She described Boogie Boards as a “liquid crystal paper” that allows students to write without the need for conventional paper or “messy” ink. The boards function similarly to dry erase boards, she said.

“My classroom is grateful for the purchase of these boards to enhance our literacy program,” Frye said within the release.

According to the release, this school year, Whitewater Leads anticipates that it will be able to award up to six literacy grants to programs within the Whitewater Unified School District.

“We are extremely excited to be able to expand our ability to help kids in our community. Being able to raise enough money to give away over 24,000 free books is an absolute honor. Now, to be able to give away literacy grants to help our elementary-aged students is a dream come true,” Whitewater Leads co-president Molly Fuller was quoted as saying in the release.

The organization makes available grants up to $500 to members of the Whitewater Unified School District staff who submit grant proposals, the release noted.

Those interested in submitting a grant proposal are encouraged to contact the organization by email: whitewaterleads@gmail.com.

Parents and caregivers of children under 5 who are living within the Whitewater Unified School District are able to receive free monthly books. Those interested in registering for the program are encouraged to visit the following link: imaginationlibrary.com. 

Additional information about the group and its programming is found here: whitewater-leads.org. Those with questions may contact Fuller by email: whitewaterleads@gmail.com or phone: 314-324-0169.

An earlier story about the program, as published on WhitewaterWise’s sister publication, Fort Atkinson Online, is here: https://fortatkinsononline.com/whitewater-banquet-held-in-support-of-literacy-program/.