Goodyear City Council Member Vicki Gillis celebrates the third location of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library she helped bring to the community. According to published reports, more than 350,000 children have signed up for books accessed through the Dolly Parton Imagination Library since her passing.
Courtesy of city of Goodyear
Goodyear City Councilwoman stands with community partners responsible for helping her bring another Dolly Parton Imagination Library to the Valley.
City of Goodyear Councilwoman Vicki Gillis believes in bedtime stories and the special time spent between a parent and a child, she says, championing the importance of reading.
A strong supporter of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, she celebrated the third location she helped bring to the community early morning on Sept. 24, at Havok Jewelers, 3301 N. Litchfield Road, Suite 700, in Goodyear.
She explained why it was important to bring the endeavor to local communities.
“Reading is a skill we simply cannot afford to lose. In a world dominated by screens, we must intentionally give kids the habit and joy of picking up a book. Literacy is how children gain not only knowledge but the ability to think critically, imagine bigger, and one day make a difference. Literacy is a nonpartisan issue and a legacy we must all pass on to our children,” Gillis said.
She describes the endeavor below and what was involved with bringing the literacy initiative that started with a star.
How long have you been involved?
My connection to Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library really deepened through my work with the Goodyear PebbleCreek Rotary Foundation. The mission of putting a free book in to the hands of children is something I’ve believed in strongly for a long time. The literacy program means a great deal to me personally.
What was involved in choosing this third location?
Choosing this location was really about businesses helping businesses and everyone standing together as a community here in the city of Goodyear. From the start, the Goodyear PebbleCreek Rotary partnered with Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.
Oscar from Havok Fine Jewelers generously offered the space, and their commitment inspired other local businesses and community partners to support the initiative.
Ultimate Property Management cemented the post in place, former City Councilman Bill Stipp painted it, affixed the name tag, and will maintain the book rotation.
Abraham from FIGS, a medical apparel business, also came out to support the effort, along with Alex from Hilltop Theater and Concert Hall and even Representative Mariana Sandoval.
It’s about community partnership and creating easy, everyday access for families to pick up books, while also shining a light on the businesses and organizations that invest in and support our community.
Where are the other two locations?
We previously placed lending libraries at Rancho Santa Fe Elementary School, the Old Goodyear neighborhoods, and now at Havok Fine Jewelers. We are actively searching for a fourth location, preferably another school, to keep books directly in the hands of children where they need to be most.
How did Dolly Parton’s death impact you and the work you do with the library?
Coming from the entertainment industry, I was deeply impacted by Dolly Parton’s passing. Her incredible giving spirit and lifetime achievements have had a global impact.
She started the Imagination Library because her father couldn’t read, and her legacy continues through this program that has gifted hundreds of millions of books worldwide, inspiring countless children and families.
Delarita Ford can be reached at dford@iniusa.org. Submit comments at yourvalley.net/letters or email them to AzOpinions@iniusa.org. We are committed to publishing a wide variety of reader opinions, as long as they meet our Civility Guidelines.
Meet Delarita Delarita Ford originally joined Independent Newspapers Incorporated, now Independent Newsmedia, Inc. USA in 1997, as a general assignment reporter for the Delaware State News daily paper after starting her journalism career in Maryland in 1994, where she honed her skills by writing obituaries, covering community news from births to deaths, education to legislation and more. As a reporter, she has had the opportunity to cover sitting and former U.S. presidential visits in Baltimore, Delaware, and Arizona.
Community: One of the few seasoned journalists who still enjoys covering community events, she can be found with a reporter’s pad taking notes, her phone taking pictures while capturing life’s moments to memorialize them in print for the local newspapers and for the active-adult community where she lives. She maintains a presence with the Black media and the National Association of Black Journalists to encourage peers, socialize, and mentor younger writers.
Education: Life learner who learns from life. Aside from the collegiate education received, she got the best training from on-the-job experience with former editors who went through copy with a red pen and demanded the best writing for hard news and feature stories.
Random Fact: While a Delaware State News reporter, she could call then Sen. Joe Biden and his wife, Dr. Jill Biden, usually late at night if a quote or input was needed for varying topics, including legislation and education.
Hobbies: Adopt rescue dogs and give them a nice home. Continuously read and critique news stories from various platforms.
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