Thanks to Bridgestone, book program continues
Bridgestone officials deserve a great deal of thanks for their recent $6,000 donation that allows the Governor?s Books from Birth program to remain active in Warren County.
The program got its origins here as Dolly Parton?s Imagination Library. It was adopted statewide by Gov. Phil Bredesen in July 2004. While the program extended to all 95 Tennessee counties this June, it?s up to each county to provide half the funding.
In Warren County, the county commission agreed to pay $7,500 of the $15,000 cost to the county this year. The state matches the $15,000 for a total of $30,000 in funding.
It?s companies like Bridgestone, with its generous $6,000 contribution, that helps to keep the program afloat. It?s those types of donations which really do make a difference in this community. It?s also worthy to note that in these tough economic times, commissioners found enough money in a tight budget to contribute $7,500.
For those not familiar with the Books from Birth program, it provides a free book every month to children under 5 and the book is mailed directly to the child?s home. The program is open to everyone ? regardless of income.
All that?s required of the parents is to fill out a short form. That can be done in about a minute at the Standard office.
It almost goes without saying that reading is one of the vital skills needed in life. Whether it?s simply reading a menu, paying monthly bills, or following directions, most of us read every day.
But with the surging popularity of TV and video games, children aren?t encouraged to read as much as they once were. That?s why the program targets children at a young age.
Like most habits, the sooner reading is ingrained as a regular activity, the greater the chances of making it a life-long hobby. That?s why Dolly Parton?s vision of Imagination Library is such a noble venture. It?s a venture that began in her hometown of Sevier County and has since spread across the country.
In Tennessee, Sumner County became the last county to launch the Books from Birth program giving the state full participation.
The total cost of the program is $27 per child, per year. That includes 12 hardcover books, postage and shipping and handling. There are no administrative costs.
In Warren County, close to 1,300 children are enrolled in the program and counting.
There have been no shortage of studies which indicate reading and a child?s ability to learn go hand in hand. And the key to proficiency in reading is to start early ? even as early as the day your child is born.
If you have a child under 5, the excuses to avoid reading no longer exist. Thanks to the Books from Birth program and companies like Bridgestone, free books are available to the children of Warren County.