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Reading Railroad
In March of 2002 a group of Obion County residents got together
to endow a program where each child in Obion County from birth to
age five would receive a book each month mailed to their home.
This group consists of: Gary Houston, Kevin Bowden, Susanne Marsidi,
Betty Smith, Kim Taylor, Jane Paschall, Mary Carpenter, Curt True,
Carole Russell, Lonnie Grady, Gene Virgin, Barbara Virgin, Glenda
Caudle, Ellarine Moses, Roger Williams, Clay Woods. Clay Woods is
chairman (731-694-2882) and Gary Houston is co-chairman (731-885-3922).
As of May 2004 we have 826 children registered and have ordered
16,000 books since we started. We have broken the program down into
two segments: The Union City Program and The Obion County Program.
The Union City Program has been endowed by the Verhine Estate with
a donation of $300,000. This money has been invested and will produce
enough money to endow this part of our program. Union City has a
potential of 528 children who should register
for the program.
The remaining part of our program, The Obion County Program is
separate. We received $20,000 from The United Way to kick our program
off for the county. This account is separate and all money for paying
the currents bills are paid out of this account. As of May 2004
we have about $125,000 on deposit.
The cost for each child is $2.25 average per month or $27.00 per
year. To endow one child would require a donation of $2,500 invested
at 6% interest in government securities. This ensures a child would
receive a book a month for five years. We have a 501(c)(3) nonprofit
corporation set up under the Union City Rotary Club and have no
administration expenses. This includes Dunn, Creswell & Sparks
Accounting firm handling all accounting. We have a program set up
with Edward Jones for an automatic monthly checking account deduction
with a minimum of $25.00 per month donation.
Click here for more information on Dolly
Parton's Imagination Library.
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