Imagination Library secures funding to restore statewide access

OLYMPIA —The Imagination Library of Washington (ILWA) has been awarded two grants to help restore Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. The library provides free, high-quality, age-appropriate books each month to children from birth to age five in Washington.

The financial commitments from the Roots & Wings Foundation and the John and Tami Marick Family Foundation will stabilize ILWA’s 50% book-cost match, which supports local program partners, and restore service in paused communities as quickly as possible. Together, these commitments provide critical immediate support while creating a stronger foundation for statewide program stability.

The combined support could restore access to approximately 40,000 children and return the Imagination Library to full statewide coverage. Once the program is restored the total statewide enrollment is expected to exceed 100,000 children.

Roots & Wings committed $3 million to ILWA to support book funding and the program over the next two years. This fiscal year, a significant tiered contribution from The JTMF Foundation will also help to support the 50% book-cost match, helping local program partners maintain existing service and restore service in paused communities.

“This extraordinary support will help thousands of Washington children once again receive a new book in the mail each month,” said Brooke Fisher-Clark, Executive Director of Imagination Library of Washington. “We are deeply grateful to Roots & Wings Foundation and The JTMF Foundation for helping restore service and stabilize the book-cost match our local partners depend on. Their investments provide critical stability now, but renewed public funding remains vital to sustaining statewide access for Washington children over the long term.”

ILWA previously achieved statewide coverage across all 39 counties through a network of local program partners. Unlike prior years, ILWA was not included in this year’s state operating budget, which provided a 50% share in the cost of books. At the same time, several local program partners faced challenges securing their share of the book match.

Public and private investment remains essential to protecting statewide access in future years. Imagination Library of Washington encourages Washington residents to participate by sharing enrollment and program information, advocating for continued state investment during the 2027 legislative session, and contributing to the program’s sustainability.

Imagination Library of Washington works in partnership with Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library and a statewide network of local program partners to provide free, high-quality, age-appropriate books each month to Washington children from birth to age five. By helping families build home libraries and establish regular reading routines, the program promotes early literacy and helps prepare children for success when they enter school. www.imaginationlibrarywashington.org.