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Our Story
For approximately 7 years, the Imagination Library has been helping bring the joy and developmental benefits of books to young children across 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 initiative is a part of the broader Dolly Parton Imagination Library network, a proven book-gifting program reaching children across communities.
Our Vision
We envision a Greater Houston region where more children have access to books, more families have resources that support early development, and more communities are connected through a shared commitment to the first five years.
Our goal is to reach 50,000 children across the Houston region within the next 3-5 years.
Reaching that goal will require Local Program Partners, Trusted Family Touchpoints, foundations, corporations, community organizations, and individuals working together around a shared vision for young children.
We want to help build a regional movement that recognizes the first five years as an extraordinary opportunity to invest in children and families.
Because when we invest early, we help shape what comes after the first 5 years of life.
Our Team
Governing Board
Tom Friedman
Director - Operations, Co-Founder and President
Dave Agerton
Director - Development & Marketing, Co-Founder and Executive Committee
Tom Neville
Mike Lunceford
Rick Steinhart
Maggie Muzikowski
Jason Harvey
G.V. Krishnan
Virginia Ferer
Treasurer
Lois Dzik
Secretary
Sue Deigaard
Advisory Council
Quianta Moore
Katy Hays
Katy Butterwick
Ronnie Hagerty
United Way, Greater Houston
Dick Weekley
Dick Trabulsi
Patricia Monticello Kievlan
Professor Dana DeMaster
UT Children's Learning Institute
Janell Ray
Claudia Masas
Courtney Tsao
Dr. John Hutton
UT Southwestern
Leah Gross
Professor Anne Katz
Karla Bautista
University of Houston
Rick Byrd
Maya Pomroy
Steve Rosencranz
Resources
Literacy is the launchpad for a child’s future. By putting engaging, age-appropriate books directly into young hands, we nourish curiosity, build essential skills, and give every child the tools they need to dream big and truly thrive.
The Basics Houston, an affiliate of The Basics Learning Network, is helping to lead innovation in early childhood development and learning experience through free educational resourcs for parents and kids.
This video highlights major brain areas involved in a functional reading network, connections between them, and most importantly, what parents and other grownup caregivers can do to help children become successful, lifelong readers.