Monroe County Community Foundation Invests in Youth Literacy
Grant to the United Way of Guernsey, Monroe, and Noble Counties will Support Literacy in Monroe County Today and Tomorrow
Woodsfield, OH – The importance of literacy among our youngest community members is essential to their – and our communities’ – long-term success. A recent grant from the Monroe County Community Foundation (MCCF) to the United Way of Guernsey, Monroe, and Noble Counties will do just that by investing in literacy today and tomorrow with a $10,000 grant to support the Monroe County Dolly Parton Imagination Library program.
This grant from the Monroe County Community Foundation, a local community fund of the Foundation for Appalachian Ohio (FAO), will support additional enrollment of Monroe Countians age 0-5, while also supporting community literacy programming today and tomorrow. This grant was made possible by a partnership between the Monroe County Community Foundation and FAO’s I’m A Child of Appalachia® Fund. These grant dollars will also have the added bonus of deploying additional match dollars to further expand the program now and in the future.
“The Monroe County Community Foundation Fund is so pleased to be able to partner with the United Way and FAO to expand the Dolly Parton Imagination Library program across the county,” shared Gwynn Stewart, a committee member with the Monroe County Community Foundation Fund. “These dollars will be used to enroll children while engaging their parents, caregivers, extended families, schools, and the broader Monroe County community in literacy events that promote access to books, a lifelong love of reading, and the benefits of increasing childhood literacy in every home, especially among our children most in need.”
The Dolly Parton Imagination Library in Monroe County promotes youth literacy by engaging children in positive experiences with reading books. This improves their readiness to learn and be successful in school and life. Enrollment in the Dolly Parton Imagination Library will build educational strength and resilience for Monroe County youth in the 0-5 age group. Enrollment in the program is open to all Monroe County children from birth to age 5 and is free to all enrollees. Children enrolled in the program will receive a book each month until their 5th birthday, creating their own personal library while emphasizing early literacy skills that are essential to long-term success.
With the help of the Monroe County Community Foundation, the Monroe County Dolly Parton Imagination Library plans to increase its overall enrollment to 530 children. This expansion will be made possible through targeted literacy outreach and events to young children and their parents, families, caregivers, or supporters. In addition to books, the monthly delivery will also include parent guides to foster and support a strong bond between the parent and child through the joy of reading. Monroe Countians interested in participating can contact the United Way at 740 439-2667 or uwguernsey@guernseyunitedway.com.
The Monroe County Community Foundation was established in 2014 to ensure permanent support for the citizens and communities of Monroe County. A local community fund of the Foundation for Appalachian Ohio, MCCF works to inspire philanthropy.
If you are interested in making a gift to support the Monroe County Community Foundation and build the resources necessary to address the ongoing COVID-19 crisis and future needs in the community, please contact FAO at 740.753.1111 or info@ffao.org. To learn more about the Monroe County Community Foundation, visit www.AppalachianOhio.org/Monroe.
About the Monroe County Community Foundation
The Monroe County Community Foundation (MCCF) was established in 2014 to ensure permanent support for the citizens and communities of Monroe County. A local community fund of the Foundation for Appalachian Ohio, MCCF works to inspire philanthropy.
About the Foundation for Appalachian Ohio
The Foundation for Appalachian Ohio (FAO) is a regional community foundation serving the 32 counties of Appalachian Ohio. A 501(c)(3) public charity, the Foundation creates opportunities for Appalachian Ohio’s citizens and communities by inspiring and supporting philanthropy. For more information about FAO, visit www.AppalachianOhio.org.
