LITERACY COUNCIL AWARDED AN EASTERN SHORE OF VIRGINIA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION GRANT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
EASTERN SHORE LITERACY COUNCIL
CONTACT: Rose Rulon, Executive Director, 757-789-1795
[email protected]
February 5, 2026

LITERACY COUNCIL AWARDED AN EASTERN SHORE OF VIRGINIA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION GRANT
The Eastern Shore Literacy Council (ESLC) announces a $7,000 grant award from The Eastern
Shore of Virginia Community Foundation (ESVCF) to support the local Dolly Parton’s
Imagination Library book gifting initiative. This grant award will support the monthly
distribution of books to registered age-eligible children. Over 30,000 books have been mailed
directly to the homes of children registered for the Imagination Library since the Eastern Shore
Literacy Council became an Imagination Library Local Program Partner. In 2025, 10,856 books
were mailed to registered children. As a Local Program Partner, the Eastern Shore Literacy
Council covers the cost of books and mailing each month, promotes the program in the
community, registers age-eligible children and seeks program funding support.
The average retail cost of Imagination Library titles is about $14 per book. However, by
purchasing in volume, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is able to acquire and mail customized
books for about $2.60 per child per month. Cost for local program partners is $31.00 per child
annually.
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Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is the flagship program of The Dollywood Foundation, a
501(c)(3) nonprofit Tennessee organization. The Imagination Library fosters early literacy by
delivering age-appropriate books directly to the homes of children from birth to age five. The
program is made possible through funding shared by Dolly Parton herself, and local Program
Partners in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, and the Republic of Ireland.
Inspired by her father’s inability to read and write, Dolly started the Imagination Library in 1995
to serve the children of her hometown in Sevier County, Tennessee. Today, her program spans
five countries and gifts over 3 million free, high-quality, age-appropriate books each month to
children around the world. There is never a charge to families who participate in the program
and it is open to all children under the age of five in geographic areas with operating programs.
The ESVCF is a regional nonprofit that connects local donors with community needs in
Accomack and Northampton counties, managing endowed funds for permanent support and
providing grants for education, health, environment, arts, and social welfare to strengthen the
region. It works with donors to create charitable funds and partners with the Hampton Roads
Community Foundation for investment, offering philanthropic solutions to build a stronger,
more vibrant Eastern Shore. 

The ESLC is a non-profit organization providing free literacy services to adults, including one-on-
one tutoring for reading/writing, Adult Basic Education (ABE), and English as a Second Language
(ESL), aiming to empower residents for better community participation, education, and
employment. ESLC also supports children’s literacy through Dolly Parton's Imagination Library. 
Find out more about Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library or register a child at
www.imaginationlibrary.com, the Eastern Shore Literacy Council at www.shoreliteracy.org or
by calling 757-789-1761.