BEGIN WITH BOOKS

An initiative of the nonprofit Palmetto Project

Imagine a world where all children love to read.

Imagine a world where all children start school on a level playing field.

Imagine a world where all children reach their full potential.

BEGIN WITH BOOKS

BELIEVES IN THAT WORLD.

With your financial support, Palmetto Project and BEGIN WITH BOOKS can bring Charleston County closer to that goal.

Together, we can build an in-home library for every baby & toddler enrolled in BWB!

Together, we can encourage parents to read aloud daily to their youngest children!

BEGIN WITH BOOKS (BWB) was founded in 2010 in Charleston County.

Palmetto Project is the DPIL affiliate in Charleston County and operates as BWB. Over the past 15 years, we have delivered 628,645 free monthly books to 19,874 local children.

Palmetto Project must raise $39 per child, per year, every year to pay for 12 months of books and postage for enrolled children. There are currently more than 6,100 children enrolled in BWB.

Since 2010, Palmetto Project has reinvested more than $1,400,000 in early literacy through BWB in Charleston County.

A MESSAGE FROM DOLLY PARTON

DOLLY DEPENDS ON US . . .

. . . AND WE DEPEND ON YOU.

"Of course, I have not done this alone. The real heroes of our story are the thousands of local organizations who have embraced my dream and made it their own. They raise millions of dollars each year and wake up every day with a passion to make sure their kids have every opportunity to succeed."

BUT WE HAVE SUSPENDED NEW ENROLLMENTS.

- WHY?
  1. - Like all nonprofits in South Carolina, Palmetto Project is navigating the growing uncertainty in state, federal, and foundation funding — as well as fluctuations in individual and corporate giving due to the economy.
    - DPIL is free to families — but not to us. In December 2024, we were notified of a 20% increase in the cost of books and postage, effective January 2025.
    - To support one child enrolled in DPIL, Palmetto Project now must raise $39 per child, per year — every year.
    - As the affiliate responsible for nearly half of all DPIL enrollments in the state, Palmetto Project proudly delivers the joy of reading to nearly 27,000 children across 16 counties — including more than 6,100 in Charleston County alone. We believe wholeheartedly in the magic of storytime and the lifelong impact of early literacy; however, due to the substantial increase in book and postage costs for Palmetto Project, we have reached our enrollment capacity for DPIL based on current funding.
    - To ensure continued book delivery to the 6,171 children in Charleston County, we have suspended new program enrollments in Charleston and statewide, effective Summer 2025.
      - Our fundraising goal to reopen enrollment is $180,000.

- HOW YOU CAN HELP!
  1. - This spring and summer, we must focus on raising $180,000 to support the children who are currently enrolled, plan for future expansion, and resume new enrollments.
    - If you would like to help support our work and partnership with Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, we would welcome your investment.
    - Contributions can be directed to a specific county in the Lowcountry, allowing you to support children right in your own community.

Thank you for helping us turn the page toward a brighter future for children in Charleston County.