A widely used early literacy program in Rochester is entering a new phase, with United Way of Greater Rochester and the Finger Lakes stepping in as its new organizational home.
The transition gives United Way oversight of the local chapter of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, which provides free, age-appropriate books each month to children from birth through age 5, regardless of income.
Launched in 2021 as a pilot serving a single Rochester ZIP code, the program has expanded citywide and now reaches more than 4,600 children — more than one in three under age 5 in the city. Organizers say more than 100,000 books have been delivered to local families since its inception.
The program was previously housed at the Rochester Education Foundation, which helped launch and sustain it through its early growth. Leaders say United Way’s broader regional footprint and infrastructure position it to expand the initiative beyond Monroe County into surrounding communities.
United Way President and CEO Jaime Saunders said the organization is committed to growing access to books and early learning resources across the region, while building on the work of community partners who helped establish the program locally.
Dr. Matt Present, a Rochester pediatrician who founded the local chapter, said the program plays a critical role in early childhood development, noting that regular reading can improve vocabulary, communication skills, and long-term academic outcomes.
United Way serves six counties across the Finger Lakes region and officials say the transition will allow for a more coordinated, sustainable expansion of the program in the years ahead.
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