Hermanowski Family Foundation Initial Request Form

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Organization Name: The DeGood Foundation
Legal Name (if Different):
Also Known As:
Mailing Address: 11834 Canon Blvd Suite G-3
City: Newport News
State: Virginia
Postal Code: 23606
Main Phone: (757) 574-0334
Main Fax:
Organization Website: www.degoodfoundation.org
Employer ID Number: 82-3264889
Organization Tax Status: 501(c)3

Proposal Information

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Today’s Date: 3/26/25
Requested Amount: $10,000

Project Title: Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library of the Virginia Peninsulas
Project Description:

The DeGood Foundation’s mission is to ensure that all children of the Virginia Peninsulas will have equitable access to early literacy resources. We serve as the local program partner of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library for the Virginia Peninsulas, a book-gifting program that mails free, high-quality, age-appropriate books to children each month from birth until their fifth birthday, regardless of income or background. Through the Imagination Library, we inspire a love of books, reading, and learning that will lay the foundation for success in K-12, higher education, and the workforce.

The Imagination Library is more than just a feel-good program: the body of evidence on early brain development shows the importance of reading to young children. Reading is the key for lifelong learning and the single most important activity for building knowledge required for eventual success in school, work, and life in general. Brain science provides evidence that reading to children before Kindergarten influences the developing brain when it is most sensitive to nurturing experience.

A common misconception is that Dolly Parton covers the cost of books for the Imagination Library. While The Dollywood Foundation provides the infrastructure, at the heart of the program are local program partners, like The DeGood Foundation, who enroll children and raise critical funds to cover the cost of books and postage within their service areas.

Total Project Budget: $253,000

Other Funding
Sources For The Project (Committed & Potential): Commonwealth of Virginia, Smithfield Foods, BayPort Credit Union, Petters Family Foundation, Huntington Ingalls

Project Duration: Ongoing
Geographical Area Served: Virginia Peninsulas (Newport News, Hampton, Poquoson, Yorktown, Williamsburg, James City County, Gloucester, Mathews, Isle of Wight County)
Age Group To Be Served: Children ages 0-5

Contact Information

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Contact Prefix (Mr,Mrs etc.): Mr.
Contact First Name: Kyle
Contact Last Name: DeGood
Contact Title: Executive Director
Contact Phone: (757) 574-0334
Contact Email: kyle@degoodfoundation.org