About Us

Our History

The Imagination Library of Greater Houston (ILoGH) was established in April 2025 after six years of leading a successful pilot program at the YMCA of Greater Houston. Formed as a single-purpose, standalone, donor-supported Texas nonprofit, ILoGH was created to expand and sustain access to early childhood literacy across the Greater Houston area, especially for families that lack parenting resources and support. Our legal formation was completed with the assistance of Bracewell LLP, and in September 2025 the IRS confirmed our status as a 501(c)(3) public charity.

The Dollywood Foundation has formally recognized ILoGH as a Local Program Partner (LPP) of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library (DPIL) and as the successor to the YMCA.

In 2025, ILoGH served more than 5,500 children, including those 1,500 who “graduated” from the program at age five. Each enrolled child received a high-quality, age-appropriate book every month, delivered directly to their home in their name—at no cost to the family. In 2025, as in the previous 2 years, we doubled enrollment. ILoGH pays DPIL for every book distributed, ensuring families and partner organizations incur no direct costs.

To reach families effectively, ILoGH collaborates with 25 early childhood service providers known as Trusted Family Touchpoints (TFTs). The primary ones are listed below. These organizations help identify and enroll eligible children while providing trusted guidance to parents and caregivers.

In February 2025, with the support of sponsors, ILoGH presented a case to State Representative Lacey Hull for Texas to share the $2.60 cost of each book. In May 2025, the Legislature awarded a $4 million grant to the Texas State Library and Archives Commission (TSLAC) with the intent to at least double—and potentially triple—the 60,000 Texas children currently receiving DPIL books, by the third quarter of 2027. ILoGH is actively working with the Dollywood Foundation, TSLAC, and other Texas LPPs to implement and extend this program beyond 2027.

Our Plans for 2026 and Beyond

In 2026, ILoGH hopes to serve more than 10,000 children. Over time, our aspiration is for over 100,000 children in Houston to benefit from Imagination Library programs through ILoGH and other local LPPs. In several states with established cost-sharing agreements, more than half of all children under age five receive DPIL books at home—an outcome we hope to achieve in Texas.

To support this growth, we are continuing to expand our Board of Directors and Advisory Council. We are also seeking individual donations and foundation grants to cover both the cost of books and essential operating expenses. As we grow, we plan to engage select contract services and, over time, transition to a professionally managed nonprofit organization while preserving our mission-driven focus.

Donations may be mailed to:

The Imagination Library of Greater Houston
3638 Maroneal Street
Houston, TX 77025

EIN: 33-4532886

(Additional electronic giving options available upon request.)

Why ILoGH Is Unique

Focus on Families

ILoGH works through Trusted Family Touchpoints to equip and encourage families to nurture their child’s brain development during the most formative years—before the child enters school. We believe success in school begins at birth and that parents are a child’s first and most important teachers. Research consistently shows that access to books in the home is one of the strongest predictors of academic success.

Strong Community Collaborations

Our partnerships with TFTs allow us to reach families who may have limited access to parenting resources and literacy support, ensuring that children receive meaningful exposure to books during their first five years of life.

Broad Reach and Scale

ILoGH enrolls children directly into DPIL’s Book Order System, allowing us to serve families across the entire Houston region. Within Harris County, we distribute more than 25 times as many books as any other Local Program Partner. Statewide, ILoGH ranks third in Texas, surpassed only by long-established programs in Amarillo and Fort Worth.

Low Cost and Sustainable Model

Our operations are volunteer-managed, keeping overhead low. DPIL’s national infrastructure benefits from significant economies of scale, serving approximately three million children each month. Together, the Dollywood Company, the Dollywood Foundation, DPIL, and Local Program Partners form a proven and sustainable social enterprise.

High-Quality Books

DPIL books are carefully selected to support early brain development and foster a lifelong love of reading. Titles are developmentally appropriate, culturally inclusive, and engaging for young children.

Learn more about the book selection process at: www.imaginationlibrary.com/usa/choosing-our-books

Primary Early Childhood (EC) Trusted Family Touchpoints (TFTs) in Houston