LANCASTER, Ohio — The Fairfield County Foundation has renewed its commitment to fostering early childhood literacy, awarding the United Way of Fairfield County a $25,000 grant to continue sponsoring Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library for the 2025–26 fiscal year.

The grant, funded through the George and Dollie L. Zimpfer Memorial Fund, will help cover the wholesale cost of books and rising mailing expenses for the program, which provides free books to children from birth to age 5.

In 2024 alone, the Imagination Library distributed 66,488 books to young Fairfield County residents. So far in 2025, 33,920 more books have been delivered — averaging about 5,559 each month. More than 5,400 local children are currently enrolled, alongside nearly 286,000 across Ohio.

“We are proud to continue ou

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