What a night for Dolly, books, and our community!
On Friday, September 25, the Clarke County Education Foundation gathered with friends and supporters at Chilly Hollow Brewing Co. for Dolly Day, the official kickoff of our effort to bring Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library to Clarke County.
And our community showed up in a BIG way!
Together, we raised an incredible $16,855 during Dolly Day to help put books into the hands and homes of Clarke County’s youngest children.
Thank You, Clarke County!
We cannot say thank you enough to everyone who came out, participated, donated, dressed up, shared our campaign, and helped make Dolly Day such a fun and successful evening.
Whether you stopped by for dinner, entered our Dolly look alike contest, made a donation, helped spread the word, or simply came to celebrate with us, you were part of making this night special.
A very special thank you goes to Chilly Hollow Brewing Co. for hosting us, welcoming our community, and donating 10% of food sales from the evening to support the Imagination Library. Their donation to the cause was $550!
And, of course, thank you to CCEF Board Vice President Jon Erickson, aka “Jonny Parton,” and all of our Dolly look alike contestants for bringing plenty of big hair, sparkle, and laughter to the celebration!
A $10,000 Matching Gift
One of the most exciting moments of the evening came when CCEF Board Secretary Kathy Hudson, who served as the librarian at Boyce Elementary School from 1985 to 2015, announced an incredibly generous $10,000 matching gift.
Kathy believes deeply in the power of books and reading to change lives and in the importance of literacy in the home. Her generosity is helping our community’s gifts go twice as far.
And the match isn’t over yet!
There is still $2,153 in matching funds available.
Donations made now will continue to be matched dollar for dollar by Kathy Hudson until the remaining matching funds are fulfilled.
Dolly Day Is Over, But We’re Just Getting Started
Our goal is to raise $50,000 to support five years of books for Clarke County children from birth through age five.
Through Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, enrolled children receive a free, high quality book mailed directly to their home every month until their fifth birthday.
It costs just $31.20 to provide one child with 12 books for an entire year, and right now your donation can have twice the impact.
Help Us Bring the Imagination Library to Clarke County
From all of us at the Clarke County Education Foundation, thank you to everyone who came, participated, donated, volunteered, shared, and celebrated with us.
You made Dolly Day a night to remember, and we are so excited about what comes next for Clarke County’s youngest readers!
About the Clarke County Education Foundation
Founded in 1991, the Clarke County Education Foundation (CCEF) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing private support to Clarke County Public Schools to enhance educational opportunities beyond what tax supported funding can provide. For 35 years, CCEF has partnered with educators, families, businesses, and community members to invest in Clarke County students and schools.
Since its founding, CCEF has invested more than $4 million in Clarke County Public Schools through student scholarships, Classroom Impact Grants, STEM and innovation initiatives, teacher continuing education scholarships, donor designated projects, and programs that support students and educators throughout the division.
Through the generosity of our community, CCEF continues working to ensure that great ideas have the resources to become meaningful opportunities for Clarke County students.
Learn more about CCEF, our programs, and ways to support our schools at www.ccefinc.org.