Southwest Florida United Way board member makes $100K donation to Dolly Parton's Imagination Library

A board member of United Way of Collier and the Keys made a $100,000 donation to Dolly Parton's Imagination Library in honor of the late star. After Parton died last week at the age of 80, her family asked those wishing to honor the country music superstar's memory to consider a donation to her Imagination Library in order to continue the work that meant so much to Parton. According to UWKC, board member and Tocqueville Society member Ellen Vanderburg donated $100,000 to support Parton's Imagination Library as a tribute to Parton and to help carry her legacy forward in the Southwest Florida community. “Reading has always meant a tremendous amount to me, from the time I was a little girl until now,” Vanderburg said. “I have always loved Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library and what it has accomplished. Getting books into the hands of children at a young age is so important, and I hope they grow to have the same lifelong love of reading that I have always had.” Through Parton's Imagination Library, children receive a free, age-appropriate book delivered to their homes every month from birth to age five, with the goal of helping build early literacy skills from the very beginning. “Ellen’s $100,000 gift is an extraordinary investment in children and families in our community,” said Tiffani Mensch, president & CEO of United Way of Collier and the Keys. “It gives us greater stability as we continue putting high-quality books directly into the hands of young children and work to ensure even more children have the opportunity to grow up with books in their homes.” To learn more or to donate, click here. DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV.