Our Volunteer Team

Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library GTR Board Members 2023

Janet Engle 

Main Coordinator 

Linda Paranick

Secretary 

 Ruth Jones 

Corresponding Secretary  

Sophie Legault-Bradley, MPA 

Data Clerk, Grand Traverse County

Dawn Iott

 Data Clerk, Kalkaska County

  Hollie Anderson

Leelanau County Liaison

 David Rorabacher, Ph.D.

Data Clerk, Grand Traverse 

 Elizabeth Moore, Ph.D.

Chair, Fundraising Committee

  Sally Thompson

Chair, Communications Committee

 Jennifer Abel

Chair, Organization Committee

Read to Me Liaison

Nancy Grote, Ph.D.

Chair, Registration Committee

Valerie Atkin

Sharon Glenn 

  Anne Porter 

Ken Engle, volunteer

Interim Treasurer

  Since its start in 2016, Dolly Parton's Imagination Library GTR has provided over 69,000 books to over 3,500 children in the Grand Traverse Region. Program availability has expanded from the Interlochen zip code to a geographic area that spans all of Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, and Leelanau Counties.

To promote early literacy and a love of reading by getting books into the homes, hands and hearts of young children, at no cost to the families. 

Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library GTR is the local affiliate of an award-winning book gifting program that supports children’s literacy development from birth to age 5. The program’s mission is to foster a love of reading and to ensure that every child, regardless of family income, can benefit from a home library of high quality, age-appropriate books. DPIL mails books to children each month until their fifth birthday, at no cost to parents. Our nonprofit organization registers eligible children in our region and raises the funds necessary to purchase and mail the books. Our local affiliate  is run by a dedicated team of volunteers who are passionate about early literacy. Our work is grounded in research showing that participation in the Imagination Library program has significant positive effects on children’s reading attitudes, early literacy and kindergarten readiness, helping to establish a solid foundation for future success in school and beyond. 

Please visit https://imaginationlibrary.com/check-availability/ to see if your address is eligible for the book program. A child is eligible until his/her fifth birthday and must  live with their parent(s) or guardian(s)  in our service area.