Jamestown (CSi-United Way)   The United Way of Stutsman County welcomed Bob Toso, Imagination Library Coordinator, to present at its monthly meeting in September meeting.
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library was originally launched in 1995 to help promote literacy among children and has grown rapidly. A couple of years ago Bob Toso helped bring Imagination Library to Stutsman County donating his time and talent to coordinate the registrations and database the program.
The program puts free, age appropriate books into the hands of children from birth up to the age of five when they start kindergarten. Books are mailed directly to the children monthly.

Currently there are approximately 468 children registered in the program in Stutsman County. The yearly cost per child is $20-25 dollars making the program yearly cost approximately $13,000. United Way is a contributor to the program and is happy to stress that donation dollars are being spent right here in Stutsman County for these children. Families can sign up for Imagination Library free online at https://usa.imaginationlibrary.com/register_my_child.php.
The news release says, with Bob’s knowledge of the program he volunteered to work with Valley City to get the program up and running in Barnes County. United Way of Stutsman County would like to thank Bob and his wife for their volunteerism, presentation and dedication to the youth of our county!
The United Way of Stutsman County will be supporting the following agencies during this year’s fundraising campaign: Alano Society, Boy Scouts – Northern Lights, Camp Rokiwan, Child Care Aware, Community Corrections, Girl Scouts – Dakota Horizons, Imagination Library, James River Transit, MOST/21st Cen. After School, PATH, Safe Shelter, Salvation Army, SANE/SART, Senior Companion Program, and The Arts Center.
The United Way of Stutsman County is part of United Way Worldwide. Its mission is to improve lives by mobilizing the caring power of communities around the world to advance the common good. The current impact model emphasizes that 99% of all funds raised stays within in Stutsman County.