Imagination libraries receive $2,500 grants

HOT SPRINGS VILLAGE -- Recent studies found that only 37 percent of Arkansas students are reading at their grade level. When this fact is coupled with another, that 85 percent of brain development occurs in children before they reach the beginning of school age, preparing children to read early in their life cycle is important to improve on this dynamic.

The Imagination Library, originally started by Dolly Parton, has a stated goal to teach children from birth, to comprehend and fully enjoy "reading." Children at birth are enrolled in the program where each month, an age-appropriate book is sent to their parents to read the book to the infant. Young children being read to by their parents actually learn and will adapt to reading as they mature. They develop a closer bond with the parent while learning to enjoy reading.

This process of a free monthly book delivery continues for the first five years of a child's life. Clinical studies have validated a marked improvement in a child's reading skills when enrolled in this program.

In order to continue support for this program, the Arkansas Community Foundation recently awarded $2,500 grants to the Saline County Imagination Library and the Imagination Library of the Ouachitas. The awards were presented to the organizations at a recent board meeting held in Hot Springs Village and will ultimately provide free books to 40 families for the full five years.

The Hot Springs Village Community Foundation has been operating since 1983 and is an affiliate of the Arkansas Community Foundation. ARCF is an IRS designated 501(c)(3) whose sole purpose is to make grants available to qualified, nonprofit organizations serving the public good.

Members of the public are encouraged to join the foundation. Their annual dues can be directed to many different endowment charities and are fully tax deductible. Examples of various categories one can direct their membership fees to are: animal welfare, the arts, children & youth services, education, emergency services, HSV churches, library services and veterans services. For more information, or to donate, go to website http://www.arcf.org/hotspringsvillage.

Society on 08/05/2018

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