A significant portion of a seven-figure gift from Jay and Christie (Kile) Love to the Rush County Community Foundation will endow Rush County’s participation in Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library (DPIL), in addition to christening Rush County’s new community center as the “Love Community Center presented by Jay and Christie (Kile) Love.”

Their support of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library in Rush County is being made in memory of Christie’s late mother, Wilma Jo Kile, an educational and civic leader in Rush County throughout her life.

“I could think of nothing more fitting as a tribute to my mother than to sponsor this project that impacts children, education and literacy in Rush County,” says Christie (Kile) Love. “Between her career as a teacher, Title One Director, and Assistant Superintendent in Rush County Schools; her 16 years on the Rushville Public Library Board; and numerous other local involvements, this project seemed to roll her career and interests together.”

“We are so thankful for the support Jay and Christie are lending to this program,” states Arika Marlatt, director of First5, Rush County’s Early Learning Coalition. “It was exciting to get the Imagination Library back in Rush County in December and now with the Love’s help, we know we’ll be able to reach any and every Rush County family and child that want to participate!”

Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library was established in 1995 and has grown into an international program supplying more than two million books per month – and 200 million books in total – to children under the age of 5 around the world. The program seeks to inspire children to “Dream More, Learn More, Care More and Be More.” Registered children receive a high-quality, age-appropriate book each month mailed to them at no cost to the child’s family.

In less than five months, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library – spearheaded locally by First5 and the Rush County Community Foundation – has enrolled over 340 Rush County children, an amount that DPIL leaders estimated would take more than two years.

“We’re delighted by the impact our gift can make and the interest Rush County families have shown in this program so quickly,” says Jay Love. “It is great to be able to be a part of such a meaningful opportunity for families and children.”

Learn more about Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library or register a child under the age of 5.