Imagination Library helps Clayton County kids develop love of reading

More than 17,000 new books have been mailed to the homes of Clayton County children over the past three years through a local chapter of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.  

The program is hosted by the Clayton County Foundation for the Future. To date, 876 children have received books at no cost to their families thanks to generous donations to the Imagination Library’s fund. “We are proud of this impact and are excited to reach even more Clayton County children,” says the Foundation’s executive director, Emily Sadewasser.  

Sadewasser leads efforts to raise funds for the program, which is free to families but costs the chapter an average of $2.60 per book. The Foundation’s goal is to enroll at least half of the 1,500 eligible children in the county coverage area and cover associated program expenses. This year, the Foundation reached its first goal in achieving long-term sustainability for the program: launching the Clayton County Early Literacy Endowment to support this initiative. 

Funding has come from local organizations including the McDonough Foundation, Upper Mississippi Gaming Corporation, and the Theisen’s More For Your Community program, as well as from individual donors like the Mike and Kristin Fitzgerald Family Endowment, Andrea Bockenstedt Live Your Life Endowment, Watson-Rugland Family Endowment for Clayton County, and Dr. Russell and Juanita Loven Endowment, who partner with the Foundation for their charitable giving. Gifts and memorials from individuals and families help support operations, as well.   

This fall, the Foundation conducted a survey of participating families in Clayton County. Results show that 100% of parents have maintained or increased the amount of time they spend reading to their kids since enrolling in the program. Nearly 80% of respondents reported reading to their children more since enrolling, and 70% of parents reported reading with their children five or more days per week.  

On average, parents rated the Clayton County Imagination Library 4.88 of 5 stars. “My child's interest and love for listening to me read has grown exponentially. The books sent are age appropriate, inclusive, and always great reads,” said one parent. “I absolutely love this program!” 

The Imagination Library mails one high-quality, age-appropriate book per month –  at no cost to families – to children from birth to age 5 who are enrolled in the program and live in districts served by Clayton County schools (Central, Clayton Ridge, Ed-Co, MFL MarMac, Starmont and Postville). Partnerships with schools, medical clinics, libraries, and child care centers are key to increasing enrollment. The goals are to: 

• Promote early literacy, language skills, kindergarten readiness, and social-emotional development regardless of socioeconomic status 

• Encourage and inspire family engagement as children and their caregivers discover the magic of reading together. 

“We don’t have the funds to buy books and are so appreciative that we get a new book monthly!” a grateful parent said in the survey. “It has helped my son get excited about reading.” Studies have shown that a middle-class child enters first grade with over 1,000 hours of one-on-one picture book reading, compared with an average of just 25 hours for a child from a low-income family.  

“The gift of literacy is priceless,” said another survey respondent. “I’m so thankful to see a love of reading sparked in my kids each month as they read their new books.” 

Parents and legal guardians can enroll their children or learn more at the Foundation's website, dbqfoundation.org/ccff. To request information, email Sadewasser at ccff@dbqfoundation.org.  

Hosting the Imagination Library is one of the many ways the Foundation is building a strong Clayton County for today, tomorrow and forever. Supporting children and families is key to this work – and it doesn’t stop at providing books.  

“One of our current priorities is developing partnerships to ensure families have access to reliable, high-quality child care, and ensure child care providers have the resources they need,” says Sadewasser. The Foundation recently hired a skilled coordinator to steward a plan for addressing childcare challenges in Clayton County. Since July, local leaders have been convening to work toward achieving goals that were determined after a 2023 countywide childcare assessment.  

The Foundation offers many opportunities to improve quality of life by addressing an array of local issues. To learn more about how you can establish a fund or make a gift that impacts your community, contact Sadewasser at 563-880-6044.  

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The Clayton County Foundation for the Future, an affiliate of the Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque, was created with the intention of setting up a perpetual endowment fund that would serve the needs of all of Clayton County. To learn more, visit dbqfoundation.org/ccff. 

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The Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque envisions a vibrant and inclusive Dubuque region where everyone can thrive. Since 2002, we have inspired people to give back to their community, and we turn this generosity into lasting change across our region, increasing access to resources and opportunities that help all people succeed. 

Visit dbqfoundation.org to learn about the many ways we are building a strong, thriving Greater Dubuque for all.