Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, the Childhood Development Initiative and An Post have teamed up to bring the world’s leading book-gifting programme to Ireland. The partnership builds on a shared purpose of improving literacy and instilling a love of books and reading in ALL children.
Launched in February 2019 in Dublin 24, it has already reached record-breaking enrolment with 72% of children under five in Tallaght now receiving monthly books. But, we need your help to ensure that we reach as many children as possible.
The Imagination Library is operated by The Dollywood Foundation. Each month, a high quality, age-appropriate book is posted to all children under five that have enrolled, at no cost to parents. It is based on evidence that having books in the house, reading aloud to children and instilling a love of reading support a strong foundation for future literacy and development.
- By the end of 2019, a phenomenal 32,000 books will have been delivered into the homes of children in Dublin 24
- 130,905,270 total books mailed since inception of the programme in 1995
- 5053 (72%) in Tallaght had enrolled by November 2019
- An Post is generously absorbing the postage costs for the first year
- 46% of children in Tallaght live in disadvantaged / very disadvantaged areas (Haase & Pratschke, 2016)
- €1.36 Cost per child per month (excl p+p)
CDI’s Role
CDI is the Irish affiliate for The Imagination Library. CDI is a non-profit organisation working to improve outcomes for children and families. Based in Tallaght, CDI designs, delivers and evaluates services to improve children’s outcomes, including literacy, health, and speech and language. It does this by working with parents, communities and existing services, with a focus on disadvantaged areas.
As the Irish affiliate for The Imagination Library, CDI drives enrolment and coordinates literacy and family activities that add value to having books in the home. CDI also fundraises to sustain and expand the programme.
Sponsorship
We are now looking for a corporate partner to come on board with us to sustain and build on the programme’s initial success.
An Post has generously agreed to fund the postage of the programme for 2019. This brings the price per book down from €2.40 to €1.36!
Support the Costs
It costs just €1.36 per book, or ~€16 per child per year for 12 books, in 2019. It is the most cost-effective way to get regular, high quality books to children. This is thanks to The Dollywood Foundation who negotiates wholesale pricing for the books and operates the book order system, and to An Post who will absorb the book postage cost for 2019. However, we do need your support to cover the remaining costs.
Here is why you should consider partnering with us:
- Make a powerful impact on disadvantage locally
- Achieve CSR goals for your business
- Your branding on the packaging of the books, sent to 5,000 homes in Dublin 24 every month
- Brand visibility across 5,000 potential customers currently covering 72% of young families in Dublin 24
- Opportunities for your employees to get involved in events and campaigns
- Offer enrollment in the scheme for your employees with young families
- Help with organising events hosted in your premises for your employees and their families
- Inclusion in press releases and media interview opportunities
- Pilot project in Dublin 24, with a view to expand nationally
- Seventy-eight percent of people believe companies need to do more than make money. Companies must take their impact on society seriously.
- Seventy-seven percent of people are more emotionally connected to Purpose-driven companies.
- Sixty-six percent of people would be willing to switch from a product they usually buy to a different product from a purpose-driven company.
- Sixty-eight percent of people are happy to share content from purpose-driven companies with their social networks.
Sponsorship
