The Valdosta North Rotary Club awarded Dr. Dennis Marks, team leader of the Valdosta Rotary Foundation’s Imagination Library Fund, a generous donation at the December 13th club meeting held at the Valdosta Country Club.

Dr. Marks said, “On behalf of the children who will benefit from your generosity, thank you so much to the Valdosta North Rotary Club for dedicating your $1,500 District 6920 grant to the Imagination Library. Additionally, Valdosta North Rotary gave $1,625 from the club’s general fund to reach Platinum Scholar level. The Platinum Scholar level makes it possible for 25 children to receive an age-appropriate story book through the mail each month until their fifth birthday. Wow!”

By way of background, Dolly Parton launched Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library in 1995 to benefit the children of her home county in East Tennessee. Dolly’s vision was to foster a love of reading among her county’s preschool children and their families by providing them with the gift of a specially selected book each month. By mailing high quality, age-appropriate books directly to their homes, she wanted children to be excited about books and to feel the magic that books can create. Moreover, she could insure that every child would have books, regardless of that child’s family’s income.

Because of the generosity of Lowndes County citizens and Rotarians, the Imagination Library has provided books to area children since 2009.

Since it is the season of giving, contributions are welcomed. Tax-deductible checks, payable to Valdosta Rotary Foundation with Imagination Library in the memo line, can be mailed to: Valdosta Rotary Foundation, P.O. Box 517, Valdosta, Ga., 31603 -0517.