Books From Birth

YES!!!! Impact 100 has chosen Books from Birth as one of this year's three grant recipients. We thank you for this tremendous honor!

Books from Birth is a new, transformational collaboration between Munson Medical Center Traverse City, Dolly Parton's Imagination Library Grand Traverse Region and Born to Read, a signature program of the Traverse Bay Sunrise Rotary Club.

MISSION
To educate parents on the difference only they can make in their baby's brain development and language skills. They are their child's first and most important teacher. The more talking and reading aloud a child receives, the greater their chances of becoming an early, proficient reader and developing a love of learning.

*One book per month until the child’s 5th birthday

Beginning November 1, we want every newborn at Munson Medical Center who lives in the Grand Traverse 5-county region to be offered a “community gift” of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, a program that is always at no cost to families.

Invest in Our Community’s Children right from the start.
Make a Donation Today!

needs

In our 5-county region, there is a tremendous need to address the serious problems related to poverty, school readiness and 3rd grade reading levels:

• 60% of births at Munson are Medicaid funded.
• 56% of children are not kindergarten ready.
• 52% of children are not reading at grade level by the end of 3rd grade.

A child learns to read until 3rd grade; after 3rd grade, they read to learn.

The Process

The process is a multi-step volunteer effort:

Before Birth: Parents receive information during their third trimester.

During Birth: Family and friends learn the importance of reading & playing with baby at a new information center in Munson’s maternity waiting room.

After Birth: Birth registrar collects information for the birth certificate; every mother offered offered a sign up to Dolly Parton's Imagination Library at no cost to the family.

Five Year Plan: One new, age-appropriate book is home delivered every month in the baby’s name until their 5th birthday. Parents will be reminded & encouraged to read to their child every month. A total of 60 books over five years at no cost to the family.

Our Goal

The Books from Birth campaign is currently raising funds through foundations, businesses, local service organizations and individuals.

Every baby you support will make a significant difference in the life of the baby, their family and in our community.

needs

The Process

Our Goal

In The News

Contact

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