KEARNEY – The Kearney Noon Rotary Club will be receiving a grant as part of the Dolly Parton Imagination Library today.
On Monday, October 2, 2023, Cheryl Huttman, Chapter Coordinator for the Modern Woodman Foundation of America will present Kearney Noon Rotary Club with a matching grant check for $2,500 to support the Dolly Parton Imagination Library initiative.
Kearney Noon Rotary members held a fund drive called ‘Banks Bolstering Books.’ Ten local banks and one sorority participated to raise $2,800 for the match to Woodmen’s funds. Representatives from each bank will attend the Kearney Noon Rotary Club luncheon at the Holiday Inn to be recognized for their contributions. Increasing Literacy is a target goal for Kearney Noon Rotary.
The Kearney Noon Rotary Imagination Library project is affiliated with the Dolly Parton Foundation. The Foundation provides age-appropriate books and Kearney Rotary pays for postage and processing (approximately $30/child per year). Fundraising promotes the initiative.
The Kearney Noon Rotary library project started in September 2022 and has served 593 children. Kearney Noon Rotary Club has mailed over 5,000 free books to Kearney children from birth to age five, serving 24% of the eligible children in Kearney.
Kearney Noon Rotary received the 2023 Nebraska State Literacy Award for promoting family literacy for young children. Kearney Noon Rotary continues to seek grants and donations for the Imagination Library project. Donations can be sent to the Kearney Area Community Foundation
