Fundraising nearly replaces state support for Dolly Parton's Imagination Library through June 2027

A fundraising effort led by Maureen Braun, the wife of Republican Gov. Mike Braun, has nearly replaced the taxpayer dollars previously appropriated to an innovative literacy program for young Hoosiers.

Indiana's first lady announced Tuesday that over the past year, she's raised 90% of the money needed to maintain the state's participation in Dolly Parton's Imagination Library through June 2027.

"Books are more than just paper and ink; they're a doorway for imagination and curiosity to enter your life," Maureen Braun said during the second annual Indiana First Lady's Breakfast at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

The imagination library seeks to spark a lifelong love of learning for young readers by mailing each month a free, high-quality, age-appropriate book to Hoosiers from birth to age 5 — making it easier for parents to read to their children and give them a strong foundation for future academic success.

The program has been available statewide since 2023 after Republican former Gov. Eric Holcomb and the Republican-controlled General Assembly allocated $6 million for it in the two-year state spending plan.

However, Gov. Braun omitted funding for the imagination library from his 2026-27 state budget and Hoosier lawmakers declined to insert the money in House Enrolled Act 1001 (2025) last year.

That ultimately prompted Maureen Braun to issue an unusual plea for donations to the Indiana State Library Foundation to ensure the Imagination Library continues to send books to young children in Indiana.

And the program appears to be working. The first lady noted that Indiana has recorded four consecutive years of literacy improvements, including a nearly 5% bump in Indiana's literacy rate from 2024 to 2025.

"Indiana's childhood literacy rates are improving across the board, and students who had previously been left behind are now rising up. Mike and I are so proud of these accomplishments in education, and look forward to building on that progress," she said.

The governor also thanked everyone who donated to the effort and praised his wife during the event for her leadership in advancing early childhood literacy.

"I like to remind people that Maureen was the first entrepreneur in our family," Mike Braun said. "She's a skilled leader who brings people together, and it's no surprise to me that her initiative with the imagination library has been such a success."