Building a community where every child has access to books.
Our journey began with a simple belief: early literacy can transform a life. Today, thousands of children experience the joy of reading each month through our work with Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library and the support of our generous community.
Our mission is to ensure that all children of the Virginia Peninsulas have equitable access to early literacy resources through our work with Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.
How it Started💡
The DeGood Foundation began in the summer of 2017, when Founder & Executive Director Kyle DeGood felt called to bring the magic of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library to the Virginia Peninsulas. As a lifelong fan of Dolly and a big brother who loved reading with his younger siblings, Kyle saw firsthand how a single book could spark joy, confidence, and curiosity.
One July evening, while driving home from reading with his sisters, the Imagination Library theme song “Try” came on the radio. In that moment, an idea took root. By the time the night was over, Kyle had drafted and filed the Articles of Incorporation at two in the morning. The foundation was born. That same week, during his first visit to Dollywood, he experienced an unexpected encounter with Dolly Parton that reinforced his belief that this dream could become reality.
Although the foundation carries the DeGood name, it has never been a family affiliated or funded organization. Every program, book, and moment of impact exists because of the generosity and commitment of the community we serve.
“When your last name has been a pun your whole life, you might as well have fun with it, put it to good use, and do good, right?”
In its earliest days, the foundation focused broadly on youth literacy, health, and education. Through partnerships with Christopher Newport University and the Children’s Hospital of the King’s Daughters, active programs included Peer Education for student mental health support, Bags of Hope care kits for pediatric patients, and a pilot of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library in select ZIP codes in Newport News, Hampton, and Yorktown.
Today, the foundation focuses solely early literacy efforts through the Imagination Library by serving as the local program partner for Newport News, Hampton, Yorktown, Gloucester, Mathews, Williamsburg, James City County, and Isle of Wight.
Our Journey
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The DeGood Foundation was created in the summer of 2017, when Kyle DeGood felt called to bring Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library to the Virginia Peninsulas after seeing the joy reading sparked in his younger siblings. Inspired one July evening, he filed the Articles of Incorporation before dawn and soon after had an unexpected encounter with Dolly that strengthened his resolve.
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After two years of planning, strategizing, and fundraising from the community - The DeGood Foundation’s programs officially launched on March 9, 2019, at Christopher Newport University’s Ferguson Center of the Arts. The first Imagination Library book was presented, opening the first large chapter of the organization’s impact. In fact, the launch was so successful, that over 200 children were registered for the Imagination Library pilot program in its first week.
2019 also celebrated the organization’s first office space, 1,800 Imagination Library books mailed, 250 Bags of Hope delivered to CHKD, and over 2,100 children impacted.
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As the world shut down for the COVID-19 pandemic, the foundation’s work became more important than ever. Although delivery of the Bags of Hope Pediatric Care Kits with CHKD had paused for safety, delivery of Imagination Library books continued each month without pause or delay. As one of the only ways to continue to get brand-new books to children and keep them engaged in reading during the pandemic, the Imagination Library continued to grow locally. As if an unprecedented health crisis wasn’t enough, the foundation experienced unprecedented demand. This prompted the foundation’s Board of Directors to adjust the sails of the foundation to focus solely on the Imagination Library program. This crisis also prompted the creation of the foundation’s first fundraising event, Dreamland Drive-In, a pop-up drive-in movie experience.
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As the Commonwealth of Virginia expands its support of Early Childhood Education, a budget amendment was passed that covered 50% of program costs for Imagination Library programs in the state. This historical commitment allowed the foundation to dramatically expand the Imagination Library service area for the Virginia Peninsula.
This allowed the foundation to take the Imagination Library from Newport News, York County, and two ZIP codes in Hampton to all children in Newport News, York County, Hampton, Isle of Wight, Gloucester, and Poquoson. Isle of Wight County was made possible by funding from Smithfield Foods. Gloucester County was made possible by community volunteers and local Rotary and Rurtain Clubs.
As of 2023, The DeGood Foundation is the largest affiliate of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library in the State of Virginia. Serving over 5,000 children with free books each month.
Where We’re Going
Although we have come so far as a grassroots organization, there is still so much left to do. In most of the communities that we serve, 1 in 4 children receive Imagination Library books. Our goal is to ensure that all children of the Greater Peninsulas can gain access to this critical resource for their development.
You can help get more books into the hearts and hands of more children by making a gift, joining our Book Club, or joining our Storyteller Society.