PRPA SUPPORTS CHILDREN’S LITERACY THROUGH BOOK GIFTING PROGRAM

PRPA SUPPORTS CHILDREN’S LITERACY THROUGH BOOK GIFTING PROGRAM

JANUARY 27, 2022

On Family Literacy Day, the Prince Rupert Port Authority (PRPA) is proud to announce its partnership with North Coast Literacy Now (NCLN) to sponsor Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, a book gifting program that provides young children with new books monthly, free of charge. NCLN first launched the initiative in Prince Rupert in spring 2021 and with funding support from PRPA, the organization will continue to offer the program to the community into 2023.

Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library was created by the renowned philanthropist and country music icon with the goal of inspiring a love of reading in the hearts of children everywhere. Since its inception in 1995, the program has partnered with community-based non-profits like NCLN to deliver more than 150 million books to kids in six countries, at no cost to their families. In British Columbia, more than 5,800 children are registered to receive books each month from the Imagination Library through their own local literacy affiliates.

“Sharing stories with your child helps to develop social skills, enhances one’s imagination and helps to form the foundation of one’s learning abilities. Studies show the immense benefit for a child to have their own books, not to mention how wonderful it is to see the joy of reading grow in a child,” said North Coast Literacy Now’s Literacy Outreach Coordinator Kate Toye. “We are delighted to work with the Prince Rupert Port Authority to grow the reach and impact of Dolly’s Imagination Library in Prince Rupert so more families can benefit from the program.”

Every month, children registered in the program receive a brand new, age-appropriate book in the mail, addressed directly to each child. Families with multiple children under five are welcome to sign up their kids individually. The service is free for all participants.

“Every child, no matter their background, deserves the chance to discover and develop a love for reading,” said Shaun Stevenson, President and CEO, Prince Rupert Port Authority. “We are proud to support North Coast Literacy Now in this important endeavour and encourage more families to sign-up for the Imagination Library to receive books every month.”

To be eligible, children must be no older than five and live in the city of Prince Rupert. To learn more, visit Imaginationlibrary.com/ca/affiliate/BCPRINCERUPERT/