Sweet Success at TARC
December 12, 2018
Donny Rouse | Rouses Markets
December 12, 2018
An amazing 200,000 books and counting!
Terrebonne Foundation for Academic Excellence (TFAE) has reached a new milestone. As of December 1, 2018, TFAE has funded more than 200,000 books to Terrebonne Parish children through the Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.
Through this program, all registered children in Terrebonne Parish ages newborn to five years old receive one new, age-appropriate book every month delivered to their home at no cost to their family. Currently, more than 3,300 children are enrolled in the program in Terrebonne while another 4,800 children have already “graduated.” As Funding Champion, TFAE continues to fund these books for our local children.
“These books continue to have a tremendous impact on our community’s children by increasing their literacy skills, social skills, and comprehension,” Katie Portier, TFAE Executive Director, said. “By putting books in the hands of our young readers, we can help prepare them for their next journey into school.”
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library was first brought to Terrebonne Parish by TFAE in 2012. Since then, many local businesses and organizations have donated and contributed to its success. Each year, the esteemed Blue Ribbon Book Selection Committee, a specially selected panel of early childhood literacy experts, is responsible for reviewing hundreds of potential titles for inclusion in Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.
Recent studies suggest participation in the Imagination Library is positively and significantly associated with higher measures of early language and math development. The Blue Ribbon Book Selection Committee takes great care in choosing books that meet the different needs of children as they progress from birth to age five.
TFAE is an independent local non-profit organization that strives to positively affect academic achievement and to fundamentally improve education. TFAE has awarded more than $1 million grant dollars to Terrebonne Parish public school teachers since 2012. •
BY MARY DITCH
