Knox, Ind. – The Starke County Community Foundation (SCCF) Ambassadors Club has awarded a $2,000 grant to the Starke County Public Library System in support of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library program.
The program provides one free, age-appropriate book each month to children from birth to age five, mailed directly to their homes, helping foster a lifelong love of reading. In Starke County, the Public Library partners with the Starke County Youth Club and the North Judson-Wayne Township Library to make the program available to all local families.
“This grant will help ensure that children currently enrolled–and future enrollments–will continue to receive one free, age-appropriate book each month in the mail to keep as their own until their 5th birthday,” said Kathleen Bowman, Director of the Starke County Public Library System. “We hope that by offering this program to the Starke County community, it encourages families and caregivers to read every night at home to help build early literacy skills. We are so grateful to the SCCF Ambassadors Club for their support.”
The SCCF Ambassadors Club was created in 2021 during SCCF’s 25th anniversary year as a way to honor individuals who played a key role in bringing a community foundation to Starke County and ensuring its success. The Club meets quarterly to discuss community needs and select charitable organizations to receive surprise “pop-up” grants. So far in 2025, the Ambassadors have awarded $7,000 to organizations and efforts that impact local kids and families.
