POWER of the PURSE – fundraiser for the Dolly Parton Imagination Library of McLean County
Power of the Purse is an annual fundraising event hosted by Women United to help everyone in McLean County find pathways to prosperity.
This lively friends’ night out is a fun-filled evening fundraiser with an electronic silent auction for new designer handbags from brands like Tory Burch, Marc Jacobs, COACH, Kate Spade, Michael Kors, and Dooney & Bourke. Other bids and raffles are always part of the evening, giving attendees the chance to win spa packages, jewelry, and gift baskets.
In 2024, all proceeds will support United Way’s children’s literacy initiative, in partnership with Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is a book gifting program that mails free, high-quality books to children from birth to age five, no matter their family’s income. After launching in 1995, the program grew quickly. First, books were only distributed to children living in Sevier County, Tennessee where Dolly grew up. It became such a success that in 2000 a national replication effort was underway. By 2003, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library had mailed one million books. Currently, DPIL is sending out over 2 million books monthly around the world.
Children that are read to in their early years more often have improved language and listening skills, experience stronger emotional connections to their loved ones, and gain a lifelong love of reading and learning. Developing strong early literacy skills helps all children become more likely to succeed academically and actively engage in learning experiences.
In February of 2023, United Way of Mclean County launched the Dolly Parton Imagination Library here in our community. In coordination with the Dollywood Foundation, United Way of McLean County is already sending a book per month to over 2,500 children under age 5, and this continues to expand rapidly.
POWER OF THE PURSE is helping expand this initiative throughout the community. We would love your help in serving all 8,500 eligible children ages birth to 5 in McLean County. The cost of the program is about $28/child per year.