Dolly Parton Imagination Library a boost to United Way in Portage | Along the Way

The challenge of raising money to support the Dolly Parton Imagination Library has been hugely successful for United Way of Portage County.

Bill Childers, executive director of United Way of Portage County, said more than $113,834 has been raised locally over four years for the Dolly Parton Imagination Library.

Inspired by the acclaimed country singer and songwriter, the program provides a free age-appropriate book each month for every child until they turn 5. Parents or caregivers are expected to read the books to the child.

Nearly 4,600 Portage County children — about half the number of local children in that age category – are enrolled in the program, Childers said.

“It is a wonderful program because it helps youngsters learn to read and pick up the reading habit that can enable them to succeed in school,” he said. “Think about it. It is a lot less expensive to invest in youngsters mastering reading, which will enable them to learn in school, than it is paying for incarceration for those who fail to graduate from high school and then eventually fall out of productive society as adults and turn to crime.”

Childers carries a life-size Parton cutout when he makes calls for support.

“People love to have their picture taken standing next to Dolly,” he said.

Major support this year has come from the Portage County Board of Developmental Disabilities, $30,000; Kent Free Library, $14,000; Portage County District Library, $13,548; and Giving Well Foundation, $3,813.

The United Way at its recent retreat had additional positive news to share. The campaign is gaining strength, already surpassing last year’s total of $525,285 with four months remaining. The goal this year is $660,000.

Childers said workplace giving is up from a year ago.

He cited gifts from Allen Aircraft, $71,424; Davey Tree, $90,000; AMETEK, $49,000; Hometown Bank, $18,101; Portage Community Bank, $27,503; Kent State University, $45,051; ILPEA-OEM Miller, $10,300; Family & Community Services, $16,500; Furukawa, $3,200; FirstEnergy, $13,292; Meijer, $5,400; Maplewood Career Center, $3,800; UH Portage Medical Center, $6,300; 7-17 Credit Union, $3,822; Portage Learning Centers, $3,600; Townhall II, $2,378; and Field Schools, $2,357.

“These companies and organizations have really stood up for us,” Bill said.

Information shared at the recent United Way retreat indicates local need remains high.

The Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed Report, also called ALICE, shows median household income in Portage County at $64,471, slightly above the state of Ohio average of $62,262. The ALICE report finds a family of four needs $67,620 to meet basic living standards.

About 40% of Portage County households do not have sufficient income, Childers said. About a third of these residents exist in dire poverty.

Food, housing and general income support are the biggest needs, according to 211, a call-in line in which the United Way participates.

Of those calling in for help in 2023, 75% were women, 60% were senior citizens, and a third of the households had children.

Area children increasingly are qualifying for breakfast and lunch in school, and take part in federally supported meals programs and the Birdie Bag program, which the Ben Curtis Foundation operates. Birdie Bag provides food for days when school is not in session.

Childers said a rise in the personal exemption in income tax from $9,000 to $18,000 might have disincentivized charitable giving by individuals.

He speculates that might be the reason giving by individuals declined in 2022, citing the report “Giving USA 2023: The Annual Report on Philanthropy.” The summary report, which Childers shared at the Portage County United Way retreat, showed charitable donations rising in 2022 for foundations, bequests and corporations, but declining by 6.4% among individuals.

“People may have figured out that their donations do not lower their taxes as they did when the exemption was the first $9,000 of one’s income instead of the first $18,000,” Childers said.

David E. Dix is a former publisher of The Record-Courier.

This article originally appeared on The Alliance Review: Dolly Parton Imagination Library gives boost to United Way in Portage