JA of Batesville partners with TLMC for Imagination Library

JA of Batesville partners with Tri-Lakes Medical Center for Imagination Library
Program promotes early childhood literacy for local children born at TLMC

BATESVILLE - The Junior Auxiliary of Batesville and Tri-Lakes Medical Center have partnered to launch a new project this year called Imagination Library, an early childhood literacy program created and developed by American country music legend, Dolly Parton. The idea behind the program is to serve registered children, between the ages of birth to five years old, by mailing an age-appropriate book each month until the child’s fifth birthday – completely free to the child.

The Junior Auxiliary is offering the program to infants born at Tri-Lakes Medical Center from January 2012 and after. The children must also have a mailing address within the zip codes of 38606, 38658, or 38620 - the service area for the JA of Batesville.

“Children develop a love of learning early in life, and they also can learn healthy living habits at a young age,” said Wes Sigler, CEO of Tri-Lakes Medical Center. “We’re proud to partner with the Junior Auxiliary of Batesville to help local children develop productive and healthy lives.”

Brochures for the Imagination Library program will be presented to new moms and dads at TLMC prenatal classes, in the Tri-Lakes Women’s Clinic, and included in the “New Mom” take home packets post-delivery.

JA has adopted this project as the program’s local “Community Champion.” The organization is responsible for financing the program within the community, registering applicants, maintaining the database for the area program, and communicating with parents to assure the children are receiving their books.

“We are thrilled about the introduction of this program,” said JA President Cortney Cox. “It is amazing how the lives of so many local children will be enriched by receiving just one book a month, and we truly appreciate the support of the community and Tri-Lakes Medical Center.”

To learn more about the program, visit www.jaofbatesvillems.org, or www.imaginationlibrary.com. For questions about the program, call Katie Azar, Imagination Library Chairman, at (662) 609-9334, or email jaofbatesvillems@gmail.com.

(Pictured are (l to r) JA members Ashley Drumheller and April Coker; Jenny Herron, Mallory Haire and Madison Drake of Tri-Lakes Medical Center; Cortney Cox, JA President and Katie Azar, JA Vice-President)