United Way of Buffalo & Erie County Expands Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library Coverage, Ensuring Access to Free Books for Young Children Across Erie County
BUFFALO, NY, February 17, 2025 – United Way of Buffalo & Erie County (UWBEC) today announced a significant expansion of its support for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library (DPIL), an early literacy program dedicated to inspiring a love of reading by gifting books free of charge to children from birth to age five. UWBEC will now fund the program in 25 additional ZIP codes within Erie County, ensuring that children from birth to age five have access to free, high-quality books mailed directly to their homes each month.
In August 2024, UWBEC reintroduced the Imagination Library in parts of Buffalo and Lackawanna with generous support from New York State Assemblymember Jonathan D. Rivera, enrolling more than 500 children across five initial ZIP codes. With this expansion, UWBEC is now closer to its goal of getting a book in the hands of every child in Erie County, as they will now oversee funding for a total of 33 ZIP codes, covering the majority of the county alongside Frontier School District, Read to Succeed, and Akron Library.
“We are incredibly excited to expand our investment in Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library and ensure that every child in Erie County has the opportunity to experience the joy of reading,” said Trina Burruss, President and CEO, United Way of Buffalo & Erie County. “Early literacy is a critical foundation for future success, and this program empowers families to nurture a love of books from the very beginning. Playing such a crucial role in the expansion of the Imagination Library reflects our deep commitment to the children of our community.”
DPIL has proven to be a powerful tool in promoting literacy and school readiness and has the support of the New York State Legislature and Governor’s office. UWBEC has been working diligently alongside state representatives and Governor Hochul’s office to ensure the Legislature maintains the funds needed to run DPIL in the final enacted budget for the 2026 fiscal year.
“We applaud Governor Hochul for recognizing DPIL as a critical early learning tool and look forward to our ongoing partnership to ensure every child in Erie County has access to the program,” adds Burruss.
UWBEC’s ongoing support for DPIL is made possible through the support and generous contributions of various partners and sponsors, including Assemblymember Rivera, the Buffalo Bills Social Justice Committee, Buffalo Toronto Public Media, and Drs. Raymond and Mary Anne Dannenhoffer.
Families with children under the age of five in Erie County are encouraged to enroll in Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. Registration information and details about the program can be found on the UWBEC website or the DPIL website at https://imaginationlibrary.com.
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ABOUT UNITED WAY OF BUFFALO & ERIE COUNTY:
For more than a century, United Way of Buffalo & Erie County has been hands-on in improving lives and creating opportunities for individuals and families across our community. We take a comprehensive approach to addressing Buffalo and Erie County’s most pressing challenges, focusing on health, youth opportunity, financial security, and community resilience. By actively listening, mobilizing resources, and delivering solutions, we are committed to making a real difference for those who need it most. Learn more at uwbec.org.