Literacy programs are a national priority of The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi. Chapter 22 UM-UMBC has established a childhood literacy program in Baltimore called Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library (DPIL). Our program currently serves 26 children of the Park Heights Family Support Center and the surrounding community in zip code 21215, where many children and families face considerable socio-economic challenges. We are looking to expand our program to help more children in the area.

Parents enroll their children--as early as when they are born--in DPIL, and each child enrolled will receive at home the gift of one developmentally-appropriate book each month with his/her name on it, for 60 months or up to the age of five years. 

Research and evaluation studies on the DPIL program (which has been established in communities across the U.S. and in Canada and Great Britain) indicate that:

~ parents of children enrolled in DPIL spend more time reading to their children

~children enrolled in DPIL develop a love of reading and eagerly anticipate receiving their books each month

~children enrolled in DPIL are better prepared for school

~parents of children enrolled in DPIL describe the program, not as a charity or a welfare program, but as “a gift of books”

We invite you--as a PKP member who knows well the fundamental importance of reading to educational and life achievement--to be a vital part of this exciting chapter initiative by making a contribution this holiday season to provide books for the children in the Park Heights and surrounding community who need them and who will so benefit from them. 

The cost for one child to receive one book per month from birth to the age of five years is $125. The cost for one child to receive monthly books for one year is $25. A donation in any amount will help the chapter to get books to children.

If you would like to make a contribution to help us reach our fund-raising goal of $10,000--to provide the gift of books to 80 children in the first year of the program--you may do so by check or credit card. (The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi has established its non-profit, tax-exempt status with the Internal Revenue Service for the parent organization and all chapters.)

•To make a contribution by check, write the check payable to: PKP Chapter 22 UM-UMBC. 

Be sure to note on the check: Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. 

Mail it to: 

Peter Andes

PKP Treasurer

Office of the Provost

UMBC

1000 Hilltop Circle

Baltimore, MD 21215

•To make a contribution by credit card please click here: https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=2GD7QMPZ9QCBC

The PBS NewsHour’s segment on Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EWUAkeI2MD0

The PBS NewsHour’s extended interview with Dolly Parton: 

The work of Family and Children’s Services and the Park Heights Family Support Center

Best wishes to all PKP members for a happy and healthy winter holiday.

Pictured, from left to right: Vice President Jonathan Finkelstein, Scholarships and Awards Officer Maureen McCormick, Sorensen Winner Caitlin Welsh, President Marilyn E. Demorest, and Treasurer and Chapter Administrator Peter Andes.

It's time to apply for the PKP Fellowship! Each year the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi awards fifty-one Fellowships of $5000 and six of $15,000 to members entering the first year of graduate or professional study. Each Phi Kappa Phi chapter may select one candidate to compete for these Society-wide awards.

The University of Maryland Baltimore Campuses Chapter 22 (UM-UMBC) is seeking to submit a nominee for the National PKP Society Fellowships.

Applications may be found at

and must be submitted, along with all required transcripts, test scores and recommendations no later than 5:00 p.m. Monday, March 24. This is a firm deadline and extensions will not be granted. The application should be submitted to:

Peter Andes

Office of the Provost

1000 Hilltop Circle

Baltimore, MD 21250