Imagination Library Marion County - IA

02/24/2026

💙 This is what community looks like. 💙

When you attend the Giving Gala, you’re doing more than enjoying a great meal — you’re investing in Marion County.

Last year, this volunteer-run event raised $5,000 for local nonprofits supporting health, education, and human services — and every dollar stayed local.

📅 March 28 | ⏰ 5–9 PM
🎟 $40 ticket | 🍽 Three-course dinner included
🧠 Trivia + silent auction ($300 prize for winner)
👥 Table deal: $300

Tickets available at Marion County Bank, online, or Venmo (kamrynryan).
Join us for a fun night that truly makes a difference.

https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/2026-marion-county-united-way-giving-gala?fbclid=IwY2xjawP_V-1leHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETJwN2dYdFRjZks5S3U3RVh0c3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHtj5Z_OzcoSgjVstcDhSE7y4IFF8VwpZ6m52-ZG_OHbcsxo0bmqjtro3tiqt_aem_AoNnZOjFyL7BYGjs0zMNSg

02/13/2026

Pretty neat stuff! Thank you to everyone in our local area who financially supports this program. It's important... meaningful... helpful... dare I say necessary?? And we have the research to prove it!

01/05/2026

2026 Book List 🥰

01/04/2026

Thank you, thank you, thank you to the anonymous individual from Knoxville who recently donated $1000 to our local chapter.

This donation will cover the cost of 400+ high quality, engaging, age-appropriate books, sent directly to local kids and their families. What an incredible gift!

We're grateful for your generous spirit and willingness to invest in our littlest citizens and their futures. Thank you for helping create a legacy of educated citizens right here at home in Marion County.

Do you feel called to help fund early childhood literacy in our community, too? Send us a message, or donate online using the link in the comments. All donations are tax deductible.

12/20/2025

And all the December books haven't even been mailed yet!
Thank you to the donors and local businesses who make this program possible for local kids. It wouldn't happen without you.

12/06/2025

We are trying to reach a person who donated cash to our fundraiser but didn't leave a name. Last 4 of your phone number is *6478. If this is you, please reach out to us ASAP so we can get you your prize, or award it to another donor if needed. 🥰

(Yes, we have tried to reach this person by phone.)

Send a message to learn more

12/04/2025

12/03/2025

I did the final prize drawing this evening. We raised $4700! Thank you to everyone who donated. We had a few people donate large sums and not want to be entered in the prize drawings but we want to recognize them here, too. We appreciate you.

Light Within Studio, LLC 13” lighted tree: Krisi Kranz
Seelye Pottery piggy bank and Jaarsma Bakery coupon: Denise Emal
Wild Bramble gift card: Kirsten Meyers
Iowa Bike Co. helmets and Jaarsma Bakery coupons: Karen How and Brenda Goodale
Thistles candle and Jaarsma Bakery coupons: David Dettman
Michelle Gritters Luxe Photography session: Krisi Kranz

Thank you to all the businesses who donated prizes!

With 1:1 matching by the Pella Rolscreen Foundation and $2000 matching by the Vermeer Charitable Foundation, our total is $11,400... enough for approximately 7 months worth of books for local kids!

11/25/2025

Congratulations to this week’s raffle winners! Thank you for your donations. And as always, thank you to the businesses who provided these prizes!
Winners:
Karen How - Thistles candle & Jaarsma Bakery coupon.

Karen How - a gift from The Cottage Candle Shop.

Pamala Fitzsimmons - handmade chunky knit blanket from Light Within Studio, LLC.

Janeen Eastwood,
Adena Edgeton,
and Wild Bramble donor whose phone ends in *6474 - Iowa Bike Co. helmet coupon & Jaarsma Bakery coupon (1 set each person).

Jane Becker - $20 gift card to Ulrich Meat Market.

Next week is the finale! We’ll have more great prizes, including a hand painted light up ceramic Christmas tree from Light Within Studio, LLC, and a basic LUXE family photo session from Michelle Gritters Luxe Photography (valued at $490)‼️

Want a chance to win? Donate $20 or more before 11/30/25.

Venmo: -DPIL.
We can also take cash, checks, and credit cards. Contact us if you’d like to donate that way.

11/25/2025

🎉 CELEBRATING 300 MILLION BOOKS – AND COUNTING! 🎉

Join us in celebrating our greatest milestone yet — over 300 million books gifted to children through Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library!

This November, in perfect harmony with and our 30th Anniversary celebration, we’re now gifting over 3 million books each month to children around the world — and delivering our 300 millionth book this month!

A heartfelt thank-you to our 2,800+ Local Program Partners who help bring Dolly’s dream to life, inspiring children everywhere to Dream More, Learn More, Care More, and Be More. 💖

11/25/2025

😍 Thank you, Dingeman Products LLC, for your generous donation to our Fall Fundraiser! You've brought us within $500 of our $5,000 goal, and your donation will be matched by the Pella Rolscreen Foundation. This combined donation will ultimately pay for 250 books for local kids. 🙌

11/21/2025

Next week’s prizes! Want a chance to win one or two? Just donate $20 or more to our fall fundraiser. Every $20 you donate gets you one entry into the prize drawing. We are currently about $900 short of our $5,000 goal.
1) Candle from Thistles and coupon from Jaarsma Bakery,
2 & 3) Helmet gift certificate from Iowa Bike Co. and coupons from Jaarsma Bakery
4) a gift from The Cottage Candle Shop
5) gift card from Wild Bramble
6) gift card from Ulrich Meat Market

Lots of great prizes to thank you for donating!!! Donate and enter now. Venmo link in comments.