Thank you for inspiring a love of reading and championing Imagination Library of Grant County's book gifting program. With state reimbursement dollars, $6 delivers books to a child every month for one full year. Renew your support anytime at www.imaginationlibrarygc.org.

IMAGINATION LIBRARY OF NEW MEXICO: Thanks to local community partners and legislative support, children in every New Mexico zip code are eligible to receive Dolly Parton's Imagination Library books. Benefits include kindergarten readiness, improved school success and a statewide focus on literacy.

Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham signed an executive order Friday, May 30th to expand Dolly Parton's Imagination Library program in New Mexico. The executive order increases state support and allows families to receive bilingual books in English and Spanish.

I was fortunate to attend the signing event which included Lt. Governor Howie Morales, Early Childhood Education and Care Department Secretary Elizabeth Groginsky, Dollywood Foundation Regional Director Michelle Anthony, Southwest Council of Governments Executive Director Priscilla Lucero, and families who are recipients of the Imagination Library.

Dolly Parton was not in attendance but was represented by a life-sized cutout, and she sent a congratulatory video. She had to postpone her August visit to New Mexico due to health reasons, but we hope to reschedule soon to celebrate our statewide coverage. New Mexico joins 21 other states offering Imagination Library programs statewide, following Tennessee's pioneering 2004 effort.

Now 32,361 infants, toddlers and preschoolers receive books each month in New Mexico, which is 27% of the total 0-5 children in the state.

We value our local partnership with the Lactation Consultant team at Gila Regional Medical Center which allows us to register newborns and deliver books to 76% of kids in Grant County. We also deliver books to over 1,000 children throughout the state who are not covered by another local partner.

Doing business as the Imagination Library of New Mexico, we administer the program in partnership with The Dollywood Foundation, the Southwest Council of Governments (SWCOG) and Early Childhood Education and Care Department (ECECD). Community partners provide outreach, register children, and pay for the books. ECECD provides 80% reimbursement of book costs, and SWCOG processes the reimbursements.

IMAGINATION LIBRARY OF GRANT COUNTY
LOREN AND BARBARA NELSON ENDOWMENT FUND
Inspired by our founders' dedication and generosity, our board of directors established an endowment fund with The Community Foundation of Southern New Mexico in 2019. The fund generates distributable income that will eventually cover 100% of our annual book costs and ensure the program's long-term success. We hope to reach that goal by 2030. The fund's current balance is just over $77,000. Donate directly or learn more at: www.communityfoundationofsouthernnewmexico.org

FINANCIAL HEALTH:
Our total program budget is $185,320. Thanks to the success of Dolly Parton's program and the leverage she has with the Penguin Book Group, our operating and administration costs remain low. Core to our mission, books remain by far our largest program expense, at $2.50/book or $150,000/year.

The state of New Mexico and many individuals, businesses and foundations recognize that reading aloud to young children and having books at home are two of the most cost-effective things we can do to promote literacy, equity, school readiness and workforce preparedness.

Reading to babies also helps them associate books and learning with love and safety. What could be better?
We truly appreciate your support. Please reach out if you have questions or want to be more involved.

Nancy Stephens, Executive Directo

Imagination Library of Grant County, Inc.

DBA Imagination Library of New Mexico

575-519-4464

www.imaginationlibrarygc.org