Celebrating 10 Years of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library in the United Kingdom!
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library affiliates, partners and supporters recently gathered in Doncaster, England in celebration of the programme’s 10th year since launching in the UK. The 10th Birthday Conference kicked off on Thursday 28 June with a fun evening of networking and socializing, including a special meet and greet with Will Mabbitt, author of Imagination Library selection “I Can Only Draw Worms”!
The main conference was held on Friday, 29 June at the Keepmoat Stadium in Doncaster, with the theme “Inform, Inspire, Celebrate”! The day was filled with interactive workshops led by our partners, exploring fundraising, communications, social media, the book-selection process and how to add value to our books. Celebrated speakers included Ed Miliband MP, Charlotte Hacking from CLPE, Ginny Lunn CEO of Beanstalk discussing the People’s Postcode Lottery funded Story Starters project, and USA-based Theresa Carl. Theresa gave a special presentation explaining how she manages the Governor’s Books From Birth initiative that provides DPIL books for more than 282,000 children a month across Tennessee.
Author/illustrator Sophy Henn provided another highlight of the day with her special presentation, sharing her creative inspirations for such fabulous books such as “Pom Pom Gets the Grumps” and “Edie.”
Dolly Parton said,
“I am so delighted to celebrate our 10th birthday in the UK. It seemed like a big dream when we first thought of sharing our books with UK kids. But I’m a mighty big dreamer and it’s wonderful to know that our books have now been able to touch the lives of so many children in communities both big and small right across the UK.”
Thanks to all of our affiliates, partners and supporters who joined us in celebrating this 10-year milestone, and to all who continue to make Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library such a huge success in the United Kingdom!
