For Immediate Release – November 18, 2025
Contact: Ana Larson, Marketing & Communications Coordinator, 715-421-0390
WISCONSIN RAPIDS, WI – This Giving Tuesday, United Way of South Wood & Adams Counties invites you to support Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library (DPIL) and help children build a great selection of books at home.
Giving Tuesday is a global generosity movement, unleashing the power of people and organizations to transform their communities and their world. Giving Tuesday will kick off the giving season this year by inspiring people to give back on December 2, 2025, and throughout the year.
With United Way, you can get involved by making a $35.00 donation and sponsoring a child in DPIL. This program mails free high-quality books to children from birth to age five every month. A donation of $35.00 will cover one year of free books for a child in south Wood or Adams Counties.
DPIL was implemented in south Wood County in 2017 and expanded into Adams County in 2024 by United Way of South Wood & Adams Counties’ Women United. So far this year, 4,987 books have been mailed to children enrolled in the program in our community. There are no income requirements for the children enrolled, they just need to be a resident in Wisconsin Rapids, Nekoosa, Port Edwards, Rudolph, Vesper, or Adams County.
Children who register with DPIL first receive “The Little Engine That Could.” When the child turns five, they get a final book titled “Look Out Kindergarten, Here I Come!” Each book is selected with a special purpose, based on the age of the recipient.
Tari Jahns, United Way of South Wood & Adams Counties’ CEO, is also a founding member of Women United. “We brought Imagination Library to south Wood and Adams Counties because we know how important it is for parents and guardians to read to their children, especially babies,” said Tari. “80% of brain development in a child occurs by the age of three. By the age of one, a child may not be able to say many words, but can understand an average of 70 words. Babies and toddlers are like a sponge so it’s crucial that we do our best to transform them into learners so they are ready for kindergarten. One way to do this is to read to a child for 20 minutes every day!”
To make a $35 donation to United Way of South Wood & Adams Counties’ Imagination Library, visit our website at www.uwswac.org.
This year during Giving Tuesday donors can make a $35.00 donation and sponsor a child in south Wood or Adams Counties in Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library for one year. The program mails FREE books monthly to children from birth to age five.
About United Way of South Wood & Adams Counties
United Way of South Wood & Adams Counties is focused on changing and strengthening lives in our community. We mobilize our community in the areas of: Healthy Community, Youth Opportunity, Financial Security, and Community Resiliency supporting partner programs, community coalitions, and initiatives; providing 211 and Volunteer Center programs; and creating collaborative partnerships within our community.
You can help by engaging with us, uniting to create a thriving community. To learn more please visit www.uwswac.org.