Child literacy charity named President's Charity by NSW legal body

Child literacy-focused charity United Way Australia (UWA) has been named the President’s Charity by the NSW Law Society.

The accolade was announced at a launch event held in the Tamworth City Library. It recognises the impact of UWA’s child literacy advancement program via Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.

The NSW Law Society confirmed that this awarding kicks off its 12-month partnership with UWA.

“There’s no more appropriate place than Australia’s country music capital to launch my President’s Charity where the program, established by the world’s Queen of Country Music nearly thirty years ago, is a flagship among those operating in more than 29 NSW local government areas”, NSW Law Society President Brett McGrath said.

The Imagination Library sends one new book to children every month from birth until they turn five. The Law Society highlighted research revealing that UWA’s program assisted about 40,000 children.

“Since launching in Tamworth in 2019 we have seen the literacy skills of our children improve, and I can’t thank the individuals and organisations who donate to this program to ensure its longevity enough for their ongoing support. This has enabled more than 3,500 children to be registered to receive books across the region”, Tamworth Region Mayor Russell Webb said.

The launch event also hinted at research that will be published in the Journal of Research in Childhood Education.

“The research findings will be a clarion call to policymakers who work to achieving better outcomes for children. With sufficient backing as well as local support from communities, what’s happened in Tamworth can be repeated in every community in Australia”, said Leo Krikmann, UWA's head of network development for the Imagination Library.