Local Rotary clubs join effort to promote reading-readiness in young children
Sonoma County pre-K and kindergarteners score very low in reading-readiness. Now, thanks to Rotary, Dolly Parton's book library is free to children, 0-5, in Sonoma County
All Sonoma County children, ages 0 to 5, can now receive free books in the mail every month thanks to a partnership effort by the county’s 22 local Rotary clubs, the Community Foundation of Sonoma County, First 5 Sonoma County, all of the region’s public libraries, a growing list of local schools—and country music superstar Dolly Parton.
The age-appropriate books, in both English and Spanish (and Braille) are mailed with “no strings attached” and no other purpose than to “put more books into more hands of more children,” according to Parton, the program’s chief underwriter.
The main source of this early childhood literacy effort comes from the national Dolly Parton Imagination Library, which has been offering books to early readers and their families since 1995. Elsewhere, the mailed books cost $15.50 per month per family, but thanks to the local Rotary clubs, the books are now free to any family that enrolls in the service.
The countywide literacy project was spurred on by the work of the Rotary Club of Sebastopol and former Rotary president and educational professional Hal Kwalwasser, who presided over a formal announcement this week about the joint effort to help deliver Dolly Parton’s books to local English- and Spanish-speaking children.
“Literacy is where it all begins,” said Jim O’Grady, district governor of Rotary International’s Northern California clubs. “Building strong communities starts with a strong foundation of education for children and their families. We hope that our significant commitment encourages other organizations and individuals to join to guarantee that every child entering kindergarten in Sonoma County is ready to read.”
The partnership with the Dolly Parton Imagination Library is just getting started across Sonoma County but already has enrolled 5,800 families with a goal to reach all 36,000 preschool children.
Sebastopol Rotarians and other local clubs continue to raise funds for the literacy project, while individuals can make direct donations to partner First 5 Sonoma County (sonomacf.org/scil). All donations are funneled through a Community Foundation of Sonoma County designated fund program. Information kiosks are available at most local schools and public libraries as well.
Dolly Parton is the world-famous country music artist who founded the Imagination Library in 1995 in honor of her father, a man she called the “smartest person I’d ever known” but who was illiterate almost his entire life. Parton’s Dollywood Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit, now operates internationally and has gifted over 250 million books. The Imagination Library contains more than three million age-appropriate book titles, distributed through Penguin Random House. Parton’s motto is, “Dream More, Learn More, Care More and Be More.”
Oscar Chavez, executive director of the Community Foundation, told the gathering of Rotarians and project supporters this week that the program had a special personal meaning to him. “When I was growing up here, I could not speak the language. Books made the difference,” he said. “It is something so simple, yet so powerful.”
Parent and Sebastopol Rotarian Meredeth Bertacco told the audience about her two-year-old daughter’s experience with the Dolly Parton books. “Every month she waits for the mailman to deliver new books. Her vocabulary is amazing.”
Although Sonoma County is considered a more affluent region than many other parts of the nation, it still suffers from a very low “reading readiness” score for preschool and kindergarten-level children. “With the unified support of the Rotary clubs of Sonoma County, the goal now is to raise these reading-readiness levels,” said Kwalwasser. “We want to ensure that every child has the opportunity to enter kindergarten with strong early literacy skills and a lifelong love of reading.”
Prior to the Rotary partnership, the state of California already was covering half of the Dolly Parton Imagination Library enrollment costs. Now with all the new combined efforts, any individual donation of $15.50 will assure a child and family will receive a year’s supply of mailed books.
Diana Petersen, superintendent of Sebastopol’s Twin Hills School District, also offered her enthusiastic endorsement to the project. “In education we talk about a ‘million word gap.’ That is where we find that a child or student who reads or is read to gains that much more awareness and knowledge of their world versus a learner who lacks the exposure. It’s magical.”
Beth Fox, a Sonoma Valley Rotarian, has jumped into the literacy project with both feet and is now leading a local chapter of the Dollywood Foundation. “We’re grateful for our First Five and Community Foundation partners,” she said, while also thanking local Rotarians like Kwalwasser, Healdsburg’s Don Mitchell, district governor O’Grady and others.
The launch ceremony was held earlier this week at the Children’s Museum of Sonoma County, adjacent to the Charles Schulz Museum in north Santa Rosa. The “hands-on” learning center there is open daily except Tuesday and is also promoting the countywide efforts to promote early childhood literacy through the Rotary and Dollywood partnerships.
And don’t forget Rotary’s free community party in Ives Park this Sunday!
Rotary Centennial Celebration: Sunday in the Park and a Century of Service
Sunday, May 25, 12 pm to 4 pm, at Ives Park, 7400 Willow St., Sebastopol. Free.
Come to Ives Park this Sunday to celebrate a century of ‘Service Above Self’ by the Rotary Club of Sebastopol. Great live music from three bands, including Revolver. Centennial cake for all. Bring your own blanket or chairs. Food, beer, wine and other concessions. Kiddie area; games, glitter tattoos, balloon animals. Entry on Jewell Street near fire station or through the Sebastopol Art Center parking lot. Thank you, Sebastopol for 100 years of great community partnerships!
 | A guest post by
|
Thank you for this essay. Teaching reading is an inoculation against ignorance and toward critical thought. A nice bit of news in these bleak times.
Dolly Parton is such a great person. Thank you, Dolly.