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Overview: This joint-club district grant application is in support of The Imagination Library of the Prescott Area (ILPA) program. It is being submitted by the Rotary Clubs of 1. Prescott, and 2. Prescott SunUp. The Imagination Library of the Prescott Area (ILPA) is a local non-profit affiliate implementing the Dolly Parton Imagination Library (DPIL) serving 22 Zip codes within Yavapai County Arizona. ILPA serves most of Yavapai County except the Verde Valley and Bagdad which maintain their own Imagination Library affiliates.
Project Description: ILPA/DPIL provides age-appropriate books mailed monthly to children aged 0-5 that have been enrolled by their parents. This is essentially a "Book of the Month Club" for this age group. 2025-2026 will be the sixth year that a Rotary District 5495 district grant has supported this program along with matching funds from the Rotary Clubs located in Prescott. In western Yavapai County, ILPA currently serves over 2900 children per month at a cost of approximately $2.40 per book per child. Our most recent monthly invoice was just over $8,000. This expense includes both the costs of shipping and for the book itself. ILPA's current rate of subscription increase nets 20-30 additional children registered and books distributed per month which also accounts for children reaching age 5 "graduating" from the program.
Needs: The underlying need addressed by this program is the improvement of general literacy and communication skills of young children. By engaging in this program, with the support and participation of their parents, young children, aged 0-5, acquire reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills that improve their readiness for formal schooling and establish everyday requirements for normal communication. The program provides a general lesson plan for parents/caregivers to use while presenting and interacting with children as they together engage in reading and discussing the books. Parents talking and reading with their infants, toddlers, and preschoolers every day is critical for healthy brain development and long-term learning.
Timeline: ILPA is an ongoing program entering its seventh year of operation and continuous support by the Rotary clubs located in Prescott and Rotary district 5495.
Funding: During its initial six years through May 2025, district grants and club matching funds continue to be the single largest contribution to ILPA. The Rotary clubs have also provided funding in addition to that required of the district grant match. ILPA has also received grants and donations from numerous other sources thereby establishing many funding partners.
Partners: ILPA depends greatly on the local hospital's family resource birth center volunteers to inform the families of newborns about the Imagination Library and provide instruction to parents/caregivers about how to register their children. ILPA also works with the Yavapai County free Public Library system to display promotional materials to promote registration.
Marketing Rotary: Representatives from the ILPA board and its volunteers have made numerous presentations to community groups. These presentations provide an overview of the program, its current status and sources of funding. In addition, ILPA maintains its own website that indicates our major sources of funding. ILPA representatives also attend community events that involve families with young children. In all of these situations the role of the local Rotary clubs and Rotarians are recognized and highlighted. In many instances, Rotary club members are involved and in attendance.
Rotarian Involvement: Rotarians participate in the following manner: 1. As members of the ILPA board of directors 2. Assisting with fundraising efforts such as grant writing 3. Attending and assisting at ILPA promotional events held by other organizations. 4. Making promotional/marketing presentations to local funding/service organizations. 5 Volunteering to plan and execute ILPA fundraising events. 6. Participating in individual club fundraising events that provide matching funds for the district grant.
Budget Narrative: The budget amounts listed indicate only the anticipated district grant awards to the two clubs and the required club matches. Most years, the local Prescott Rotary clubs contribute additional funds over and above that required by the district grant match. Over time, the district grant process has been the single largest contributor of financial support. ILPA also depends on grants and donations from many additional funding partners, which is necessary to cover projected costs approaching $100,000 for the 2025-2026 fiscal year.
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