The Dowagiac business community has stepped up dramatically to pave the way for the communities younger set to enjoy the strong benefits of the United Way of Southwest Michigan’s Dolly Parton Imagination Library.
United Way leaders announced this morning that they have received the remaining funding of $8,500 from Dowagiac-based Wolverine Mutual Insurance Co. and the McLoughlin Family Foundation to set the program in full motion for the community. Those donations are designated for United Way’s Dolly Parton Imagination Library, giving Dowagiac children, from birth to five years of age, access to free, age-appropriate books, mailed to their homes every month, to help increase children’s readiness for kindergarten.
Last October, United Way received a lead gift of $4,000 from Lyons Industries. Today’s remaining gift from Wolverine and McLoughlin helped United Way reach their goal of $12,500, which will help grow the reading program in Dowagiac to impact 100 total newborns for five full years.
Emily McLoughlin from the McLoughlin Family Foundation said: “When the opportunity presented itself to participate with the Dolly Parton Imagination Library initiative two of our members had personal experience with the program and thought it was one of the finest things we could be involved in. One of our foundation’s key objectives is to provide opportunities to children that they would otherwise not have. This certainly fit that criteria.”
United Way funding helps provide the book program at no cost to any child residing in Berrien or Cass counties regardless of financial need. The actual cost to provide this program to the community is about $25 per child, per year.
Jim Laing from Wolverine Mututal Insurance Company was exuberant in his firm’s support, saying, “Books! Books! Books! There is no better way to give your child a head start than to expose them to the world of learning through books. Open their minds to the possibilities around them and they will grow.” Laing adds, “We at Wolverine Mutual Insurance are pleased to be able to participate in this meaningful initiative. We all can do nothing better for the next generations than to educate them.”
Individuals or organizations interested in making any gift to United Way to support the Dolly Parton Imagination Library, can contact Sharon Polfus by e-mail at Sharon.polfus@uwsm.org or by phone at 269-932-3455.
United Way of Southwest Michigan fights for the Health, Education and Financial Stability of every person in every community, with the influence and relationships to make sustainable change a reality. By harnessing resources from corporate, nonprofit and public partners, they provide immediate assistance to the most vulnerable populations among us, while addressing the root causes of the community’s longstanding challenges and changing lives for the better. To join the fight—through giving, advocacy and volunteering—visit online at www.uwsm.org.
