United Way of the Lakeshore – Beards for Books

Help Support Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library Program During March Is Reading Month!
submitted by United Way of the Lakeshore

Beards For Books

Over a dozen men put their facial hair on the line to continue to put books in the hands of our littlest learners.

Around Muskegon, Newaygo, and Oceana Counties, men are growing their beards out! For men who are typically clean-shaven, we will start to see stubble grow in the month of March (for some men grayer than they remember). For men who have thick and luxurious beards, we will start to see them say their goodbyes to a warm face. Why are they doing this? To support and raise funds for the 5,000 children enrolled in the Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library program that live in our community.

These men have pledged to grow Beards for Books for the month of March. Their razors have been thrown out, their goals have been set, and now all they need is you. Consider supporting one of these men in the Beards for Books challenge on their social media pages for March is Reading Month!

Support Today! – Find A Beards for Books Participant

Find Out More About Beards For Books Or Join Our Men Today!

Why Beards For Books Is Important:
Kindergarten is a formative learning year. It’s when children learn the skills that will help them adapt and succeed in later years of school. If more kids had the skills and abilities they need to be successful in school when they started kindergarten, they would have a greater opportunity to achieve success in high school and beyond.

65.8% of Muskegon County, 64.8% of Newaygo County, and 78.4% of Oceana County 3rd Graders are NOT reading at grade level according to the MSTEP. (View Data Here) From kindergarten to grade 3, children learn how to read. From grade 3 through the rest of an individual’s life, they read to learn. If students are not proficient in reading by 3rd grade, then they will continue to struggle in school and comprehension, falling farther behind. Currently, there is a 30 Million word gap between children who are read to versus those who are not. The Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library in Muskegon, Oceana, and Newaygo counties helps our children prepare for kindergarten by delivering books right to their door.

Read the 2021 Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library Annual Report!

Thank you! Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library sponsors:
NICHOLS; CANNON MUSKEGON; COMMUNITY FOUNDATION FOR MUSKEGON COUNTY; COMMUNITY FOUNDATION – OCEANA COUNTY; COUNTRY DAIRY; THE GERBER FOUNDATION; GREAT START COLLABORATIVE – MUSKEGON COUNTY; MAISD; READ EARLY. READ OFTEN.; PNC; THE LOTHMANN FAMILY FUND, THE CANNON FAMILY FUND