Estimated read time: 3-4 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — What if you had someone you didn't even know championing your literacy, right from birth?
The Alaska Emblem Club congregated at the Mendenhall Mall Saturday, Aug. 23 to raise funds for the Imagination Library, as well as local charities.
"This is for literacy, this is trying to make certain that everybody is interested in making sure kids don't get left out," said Sandi Hicks, a Juneau Emblem Club member. "Any time you read to kids, you are helping them so much. You don't even realize it until 20 years down the road and somebody says 'You know, my grandma used to read to me and I remember that one book I loved that was just the best.'"
Alaska has about 1,000 emblem club members around the state in 11 clubs. Along with other charities that vary by club, every year the Emblem Alaska state president comes up with their own project for their term. For Judi Blankenship, Alaska Emblem Club president, choosing the Imagination Library was a no-brainer. She first learned of the program, a brainchild of country singer Dolly Parton, through her grandchildren.
"I signed them up for this program and I fell in love with it. I truly became attached," Blankenship said.
The Imagination Library disperses one book each month, from the time a child is enrolled until age 5. That's a total of 64 books if they are signed up at birth.
Nurses are able to sign children up right at Bartlett Regional Hospital, according to Joy Lyon, executive director at the Association for the Education of Young Children, Southeast Alaska.
"So right after naming their baby, parents can sign them up for the Imagination Library," Lyon said. "We are very fortunate to have strong support in the medical community."
There is currently no waiting list in Juneau, thanks to the local support of groups like the Emblem Club, Head Start, Juneau Public Library and others. The program, which has no administrative costs, relies heavily on local sponsors, according to Lyon.
"As little as $30 buys books for a year for a kid. $150 buys them the books for five years," Blankenship said. "How easy is that? So it's like, come on people. Help! Help!"
Since its inception in 2006, the Juneau Imagination Library has delivered more than 100,000 books. In commemoration of its seventh anniversary, Sandy Parnell presented the 100,000th book to the newest enrolled baby. The celebration last November drew Mayor Merrill Sanford and several graduates from the program.
Roughly 400 children are born in Juneau every year, according to Lyon, and the program has kept up with the rate of new babies. More than 1,200 children in Juneau are currently enrolled.
"Last year 76 percent of kindergarteners coming into school for their first day had been enrolled in Imagination Library since birth," Lyon said. "So that is pretty amazing."
The last book the children receive is "Look Out Kindergarten, Here I Come!" A forward in the book, from Dolly Parton, offers final words of encouragement for participants in the program. Reading aloud the letter, Hicks' eyes well up as she narrates words clearly close to her heart.
"'Wow! You're heading to kindergarten. Who would have thought that this would happen. There's no limit to what you can do or how far you can go. Just remember the lessons my family taught me — dream big dreams, learn everything you can, and care for all of those who care for you. You do all of these things and you can be anyone you want to be. You're terrific.'"
"And how many kids just need to know that?" Hicks said. "It's just a beautiful way to end their affiliation with Dolly and to go on with just the joy of being able to read and see what's going on out there in the world.'
Blankenship's term of presidency will run for one full year, but she does not anticipate ending her fundraising efforts for the Imagination Library with her term.
"I probably won't stop in a year. Just knowing me, I won't stop," Blankenship said.
___
Information from: Juneau (Alaska) Empire, http://www.juneauempire.com
Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
