03/07/2026
We need YOUR help! State funding for Dolly Parton's Imagination Library was at risk of being cut. Thankfully, the senator who wanted this has pulled the amendment, so it looks like Kentucky's 50/50 model will stay in place! This is great news, and I am so relieved. But now more than ever, I think it’s important to help our community understand how funding works and what we need to keep running.
Here’s how the 50/50 model works. Local affiliates, like us, and Kentucky split the expense of our Madison County program. It’s NOT 100% funded by Dolly. Better with Books pays $1.30 per child per month and $1.30 per child per month comes from the state. This amount covers half of the overall monthly cost of the program, and the remaining half ($2.60) is covered by the Dollywood Foundation. 👏👏👏👏
This equates to a BwB’s cost of nearly $4,000 a month to mail books to about 2,800 Madison County children every single month. YOU can help by spreading this information and/or making a donation at BwB-Ky.org!
Have questions? Let’s talk! 💜📚📭
Better with Books is the local affiliate for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library (DPIL) of Madison County. With the support of local individuals and community sponsors, Better with Books partners with The Dollywood Foundation to mail free monthly books to children ages 0 to 5 in Madison County.
