Fairfield County Foundation Partners with United Way of Fairfield County to Continue Sponsorship

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 
LANCASTER, Ohio, August 12, 2025 -- The Fairfield County Foundation recently presented the United Way of Fairfield County with a $25,000 grant from the George and Dollie L. Zimpfer Memorial Fund to support Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library in Fairfield County. The Dolly Parton Imagination Library is an international program that provides free books to children from birth to age 5. The grant will support the local program for the 2025-26 fiscal year.

In 2024, through the Imagination Library, United Way provided 66,488 books to Fairfield County residents who were 0 to 5 years old. They have supplied an additional 33,920 books so far in 2025, averaging out to approximately 5,559 books per month.

“We are proud to continue our partnership with United Way to support Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library,” said Amy Eyman, Chief Executive Officer of the Fairfield County Foundation. “The program has been in Fairfield County since 2012, and we are thrilled to provide funding that helps meet the growing local demand for this great resource that makes learning affordable for children and families.”

The grant will help cover the costs associated with funding the wholesale cost of the books as well as the mailing expenses, which continue to rise. There are more than 5,400 children participating from Fairfield County and nearly 286,000 children across Ohio. To date, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library has gifted 34,905,478 books to children across the United States.

“We are grateful to the Fairfield County Foundation for their continued support of this beloved program,” said Melissa Dever, United Way Executive Officer. “We love to see how the library positively impacts families in Fairfield County and helps make early learning more accessible.”

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, research shows that reading together with infants and young children significantly strengthens their relationships with parents and caregivers, promoting early brain development and attachment during crucial growth stages. This lays the groundwork for school readiness and long-term benefits throughout life.

Fairfield County families interested in signing up to receive free books for their children can enroll at https://www.ohioimaginationlibrary.org/enroll. For more information about supporting the local program, please contact the Fairfield County Foundation at 740/654-8451.

About the Fairfield County Foundation:
The Fairfield County Foundation is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit that along with its supporters, helps to sustain and enhance the quality of life and economic viability in our community. Its scholarship program helps to sustain opportunities for local youth to achieve their academic goals. The Foundation was formed in 1989 and grants today continue to support the arts, children’s programs, health and wellness projects, community development, academics, and more. For more information about the Foundation, please call 740-654-8451 or visit www.fairfieldcountyfoundation.org.