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 make that world a reality in Charleston County.

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 658,645 free monthly books to 19,874+ local children.

BWB is free to families, but not to Palmetto Project.
- - Palmetto Project raises funds to pay for the books & postage for every child, every year to receive their books.
    - Palmetto Project pays DPIL for the books and postage.

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 Palmetto Project.
      - Palmetto Project pays DPIL for the books -- and the postage to deliver them.
      - Palmetto Project must raise funds for every child, every year to continue sending their books.
    - To ensure continued book delivery to the 5,000+ children enrolled in BWB in Charleston County, we have suspended new program enrollments in Charleston and statewide, effective Summer 2025.
      - Thanks to your generosity, our new fundraising goal to reopen enrollment is $108,000.

- HOW YOU CAN HELP!
  1. - We must focus on raising an additional $108,000 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 DPIL, 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.