United Way of Westchester and Putnam (UWWP) announced an exciting new partnership with Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, providing free, age-appropriate books delivered monthly directly to children’s homes. The program launch was announced at a press conference on Thursday, November 13, at the White Plains Housing Authority. 

Currently, this program is available to residents of White Plains, Port Chester, and Peekskill, thanks to a $49,000 grant from the New York State Library and matching funds secured by United Way of Westchester and Putnam. In 2025, the New York State Legislature appropriated $500,000 through the New York State Library within the New York State Education Department in grants to support local partners of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library program.   

Since launching in 1995, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library has become the preeminent early childhood book gifting program in the world. The flagship program of The Dollywood Foundation has gifted well over 170 million free books in Australia, Canada, The Republic of Ireland, United Kingdom and the United States. The Imagination Library mails more than 1.8 million high-quality, age-appropriate books each month to registered children from birth to age five. Dolly envisioned creating a lifelong love of reading, inspiring children to dream. The impact of the program has been widely researched, and results suggest positive increases in key early childhood literacy metrics. Penguin Random House is the exclusive publisher for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.  

“We are thrilled to bring Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library to Westchester County. This program gives children the gift of reading and fosters a lifelong love of books from an early age,” said Tom Gabriel, CEO and President of United Way of Westchester and Putnam.  

United Way of Westchester and Putnam is responsible for managing child enrollment, outreach to families and partners, and covering mailing and book costs for participants.

Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins said, “I am pleased that communities in Westchester will benefit from funding secured by the State Legislature to launch Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. Empowering our children with the resources they need to build strong educational foundations is essential to their future success. By helping to ensure that children, regardless of their families’ income, can have access to age-appropriate books in their home, we are nurturing a love of reading, learning, and imagination from the very beginning. This investment in early literacy reflects our ongoing commitment to giving every child the opportunity to thrive and reach their fullest potential.”

State Senator Shelley B. Mayer said, “I am delighted to join United Way of Westchester & Putnam Counties to celebrate Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library being brought to White Plains, Port Chester, and Peekskill. Reading opens new worlds for children – helping them learn, grow, and see the world around them in new ways. All children deserve access to books, and for too many in our community, barriers limit their access to reading. Through Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, children in these communities will receive a book every month right to their door. These new books sent to children’s homes are a meaningful way to keep imagination alive and ensure that so many young people have access to books. I am pleased that the State Senate, under the leadership of Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, was able to secure the funding to make these libraries possible.”

The Dollywood Foundation stated, “The United Way of Westchester and Putnam has launched Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library in their community to not only inspire a love of books and reading, but also to measurably improve kindergarten readiness.  This book-gifting program helps to create an in-home learning culture and provides equitable and universal access to all children under age 5.  The Dollywood Foundation is ecstatic that UWWP has partnered to enhance literacy for children.”

Program Details:

• Eligibility: Children must be under 5 years old. When a child turns 5, they age out of the program.  
• Service Area: Must reside in the following zip codes:
  • White Plains: 10601, 10602, 10603, 10604, 10605, 10606, 10607 or 10610  
  • Port Chester: 10573  
  • Peekskill: 10566  
• Cost: Completely FREE   
• Duration: Children receive books monthly until their 5th birthday 

If you are interested in signing up for the program, please use this link and fill out the form on the bottom of the web page: https://www.uwwp.org/dpil/