"Once you learn to read, you will be forever free." – Frederick Douglass. 

For a decade, BASIC’s Dolly Parton Imagination Library (DPIL) has sparked a love for reading in Borrego Springs, placing high-quality books into the hands of our youngest learners. What started as the only DPIL program in San Diego County has since inspired others, including San Diego and Julian, to follow suit.

Thanks to generous donors and state funding, 89 children are currently enrolled in our DPIL program—double the national average! California’s Bill 1183, passed in 2022, ensures statewide support for literacy, allowing BASIC to expand its reach and impact.

To foster inclusivity, bilingual (English/Spanish) books became an option in June 2024, with an overwhelming majority of parents choosing them. Since 2015, BASIC has supported 239 children, delivering over 5,243 books—enough to outstretch Borrego’s iconic Serpent Sculpture!

​Each child’s journey begins with The Little Engine That Could, embodying Dolly Parton’s own determination, and ends with So Now You Are Going to Kindergarten, preparing them for their next chapter.

Behind the numbers are stories like baby Dylan, whose love for reading blossomed through DPIL. His favorite books? Anything featuring dinosaurs or Godzilla! He’s now continuing his literacy journey through BASIC’s Latino Family Literacy Project.

Want to spread the joy of reading?

• Sponsor a child: Just $32.10 provides a year of books! Donate at borregobasic.org/donate.html.
• Share the opportunity: An estimated 80 more eligible children in Borrego Springs could benefit from DPIL—help us reach them!

Catch our DPIL webinar recording at borregobasic.org/webinar-series.html and join us in turning the page on brighter futures.
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A heartfelt thank you to our donors and partners—the California State Library, Dr. Seuss Foundation, San Diego Foundation, Friends of the Library, and Linda Stanley. Your generosity fuels this remarkable 10-year journey!