As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to surge and affect many local and fundamental organizations, The Imagination Library of Montgomery County is unfortunately one of those facing funding shortages. With the present difficulties CDE Lightband and Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) have agreed to match up to $15,000 in donations as the Community Care Fund campaign is launched once again. The partnership gives local power companies the opportunity to identify organizations or local initiatives in need for which they can seek matching funds from TVA.
“We want to ensure that this program stays around. I personally know many children who have benefited from the books provided by Imagination Library. Our goal is to help them maintain and hopefully grow their distribution of 9,000 books per month to children in Montgomery County,” says Brian Taylor, general manager of CDE Lightband.
Each month, children ages birth to five years, receive a book addressed to them in the mail. Inside, these books have important reading and literacy tips for parents and also encourage reading together. With virtual learning creating some new challenges for many, it is more important than ever to donate to educational programs like Imagination Library as they support early learning.
“Our community has come together to share this love of reading and provide books for any child in our county. Children who are read to before kindergarten hear more than 1,000,000 words than children who are not read to in their early years. There are a few things better than a child climbing up on your lap and snuggling in for a story,” says Karen Morrow, co-chair of The Imagination Library of Montgomery County.
TVA launched the Community Care Fund in April 2020 to help address hardships created by the COVID-19 pandemic. In the initiative’s first six months, it has provided support to 344 nonprofits and community programs across the TVA service territory, totaling a combined $4.7 million in assistance. In addition to CDE Lightband, 136 other power companies have participated in the program, resulting in TVA announcing it will double its total commitment to $4 million in matching funds.
“As part of our mission of service, TVA is an active partner with local power companies to help address the challenges families and businesses are facing today,” said Jeannette Mills, TVA executive vice president and chief external relations officer. “The Community Care Fund is a great demonstration of how public power benefits the people of the Tennessee Valley as we translate strong company performance into dollars for relief across the communities we serve.”
Over the summer, CDE Lightband successfully partnered with TVA and United Way for the initial launch of the Community Care Fund. One hundred percent of the proceeds provided relief to local families for some of the COVID-19 hardships, by reducing or completely paying for customers’ utility bills.
How to donate: Cash or checks are payable to Montgomery County Imagination Library and mailed to the Montgomery County Public Library at 350 Pageant Lane, Suite 501, Clarksville TN 37040, or visit www.governorsfoundation.org/give and designate your gift to Montgomery County.