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Reading Railroad
In March of 2002, a group of Obion County residents got together to endow an Imagination Library program where each child in Obion County from birth to age five would receive a free book a month mailed to their home. This original group consisted of: Gary Houston, Clay Woods, Susanne Marsidi, Kim Taylor, Jane Paschall, Curt True, Carole Russell, Glenda Caudle, Ellarine Moses, Roger Williams, Kristi Kizer, Joyce Stephens, Sherry Hendrix, Glenda Chrisp, Susan Fowler, and Nikki Netherland.
After an initial period of fundraising and promotion, the first children were registered in spring of 2004. We are proud to be celebrating 20 years of service to our community. The current board consists of Roger Williams and Kim Taylor, serving as co-chairs, Jane Paschall, secretary, Carole Russell, Carolina Conner, Greg Dozier, Jessica Gibson, Ginny Starks, and Catherine Nailling. We are also excited to establish a Teen Advisory Board with four high school students participating with our board members.
Our funding and registration are divided into three separate accounts. The Union City portion of our program is funded by a grant from the Verhine Estate. The Obion County account has been funded by United Way and local fundraisers, such as the Celebrity Waiter dinner. The Rives funds are endow by a donation in memory of Archie and Annie V. Cultra. The cost for each child is $2.20 a month or $26.40 per year. To endow one child would require a donation of $132. This ensures a child would receive a book a month for five years. We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation set up under the Union City Rotary Club and have no administrative expenses. This includes Alexander, Thompson, and Arnold Accounting firm handling all accounting.
As of April 2024, we have mailed 135,644 books to children in Union City, 13,998 books to children living outside of the city limits and Rives children have received 9,019 books.
Click here for more information on Dolly
Parton's Imagination Library.
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