Rotary clubs expand access to books for young children
Arizona Rotary clubs are strengthening literacy across the state through their partnership with Dolly Parton Imagination Library, helping thousands of young children receive books during their earliest years.
Dolly Parton had a dream, devoted to her “daddy,” a man that couldn’t read. Her dream was to give the children in her hometown a tool that could help them succeed in life – a love of reading and of books.
Thirty years ago, in 1995, the country music legend started Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library (DPIL) and it is now an international program that sends books to over three million children each month.
The program is simple, yet impactful in its scope and reach: A child enrolled in the program receives a book every single month — for the first five years of his or her life.
Dolly Parton Imagination Library Thrives in District 5495
In Arizona, the program is thriving – and growing – thanks to the support of several local Rotary clubs in District 5495.
There is never a cost to the family, as DPIL is funded by donations and grants, and supported by both individuals as well as organizations such as Rotary clubs. For approximately $30 per year, a child will receive a monthly book carefully selected for their age.
The Rotary Club of Surprise/Sun City West entered into an agreement in 2025 with the nonprofit Dollywood Foundation to become the newest Arizona Rotary partner of the book-gifting program. Club member Ron Klaphake said he anticipates DPIL will soon become his club’s signature service project.
The club started the program with the intention of serving 300 children in Surprise and El Mirage, Arizona – but that number quickly grew to over 400. The Sun City Rotary Foundation and the Kellam Foundation have since jumped on board to help the club serve more families.
Mr. Klaphake said there are over 10,000 eligible children in the Surprise/El Mirage area and the club is “seeking more individuals and partners to help fund this remarkable literacy program now and into the future.”
seeking more individuals and partners to help fund this remarkable literacy program now and into the future.
Community Investment in Early Literacy
The Rotary Club of Goodyear/Pebble Creek, Arizona has for several years sponsored the DPIL. Club President Jim Frey said his club budgets $50,000 per year to support the DPIL.
Rotary clubs in the Sedona and Verde Valley area sponsor what may be the largest DPIL program in the state. The Verde Valley Imagination Library serves over 1,800 children each month in 10 different ZIP codes at a cost of $4,500 per month.
According to Lynette Prouty of The Rotary Club of Verde Valley-Cottonwood, participants each month receive a free, high-quality age-appropriate book.
The organization has partnered with the Verde Valley Health Center to provide information about the program to every family of newborns.
“The hospital staff even goes as far as having the family fill out the program application before they leave the hospital, and the baby starts receiving books within a couple months. The child will receive a new book every month until they are five years old,” said Ms. Prouty.
The Dolly Parton Imagination Library is a wonderful program that helps promote reading and literacy to our youngest population, and that’s a good thing,
VVIL hosts a fundraiser every two years to raise the funds needed to operate this project.
Rotary members improve lives and bring positive, lasting change to communities around the world by promoting peace, fighting disease, providing clean water and sanitation, supporting education, saving mothers and children, growing local economies and protecting the environment. Rotary’s top priority is the global eradication of polio. Rotary launched its polio immunization program, PolioPlus, in 1985, and in 1988 became a leading partner in the Global Polio Eradication Initiative.
