submitted by United Way of the Lakeshore
Muskegon, MI – United Way of the Lakeshore (United Way) raised over $25,000 so far through its fundraising campaign, Beards for Books, to support Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. This campaign held every March during National Reading Month seeks champions to grow out their beards and raise money for children’s literacy.
“Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library mails a book to children each month from birth to age five for $30 per year,” shares J.J. Lewis, Chief Development Officer at United Way. “Our United Way operates the program in Muskegon and Oceana Counties with over 5,000 children currently receiving a book a month. The money we raise goes directly to purchasing and mailing books to children to ensure it is free to them and their family. It’s such an amazing program to increase children’s literacy; we are grateful to all our community members for supporting it.”
This year, generous donors Kay and Mike Olthoff donated a matching gift of $35,000 for books in Muskegon County, and Donald and Janet Hasselbring donated a matching gift of $5,000 for books in Oceana County.
“Beards for Books is a creative and fun way to give back. Increasing childhood literacy has a huge impact on our long-term ALICE goals,” shares Ryan Bennett, Beards for Books Champion and Business Manager of West Michigan Plumbers, Fitters and Service Trades Local Union No. 174. “The Dolly Parton Imagination Library is a great program and we’re really lucky to have local philanthropists matching the money we raise.”
United Way thanks our champions who put their beard on the line and made it all possible: Matthew Abel, Don Baxter Sr., Ryan Bennett, Walter Christopherson, Jon Covington, AJ Ellsworth, Jason Finch, DJ Hilson, Rich Houtteman, Ken Johnson, Don Kalisz, Bryan Lambert, J.J. Lewis, Immanuel Melchor, Gary Nelund, Michael Ramsey, Jack Russell, James Vander Hulst, Bruce Walters, Joe Zappacosta, and Roger Morgenstern. Learn more about our champions on the Beards for Books webpage.
“There is no better way to support our kids than by giving them a free opportunity to learn how to read,” shares DJ Hilson, Beards for Books Champion and Muskegon County Prosecutor. “Reading is an essential skill to build a foundation of success and growing a beard to help our kids reach their full potential is an easy sacrifice to make.”
United Way is still hoping to raise enough to earn the $41,000 donated in matching gifts and encourages you to support Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library! Visit their website at www.unitedwaylakeshore.org or mail a check payable to United Way of the Lakeshore, PO Box 207, Muskegon, MI 49443 to have your gift matched.
“Dolly Parton is an inspiration to me and the way she gives back and builds communities makes me want to be a better person. I am participating again this year to promote not just literacy but philanthropy: an active effort to promote human welfare,” shares Bruce Walters, Beards for Books Champion. “Together let’s make this world a better place!”
United Way of the Lakeshore is uniting to inspire change and build thriving communities. We tackle the toughest issues facing our community by mobilizing every resource, partner, and voice to solve those challenges. Our Bold Goal is to ensure 10,000 more working families meet their basic needs by 2025.
For more information, visit us online at unitedwaylakeshore.org, and follow us on social media via Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.