Jonesboro, AR — Contributed — July 22, 2025 — The Arvest Foundation recently announced a $5,000 grant to the United Way of Northeast Arkansas.
The grant will support the funding of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library for Craighead County.
Arvest Bank associates joined Kevin Hufstedler, community bank president for Arvest – Jonesboro, to present a check on behalf of Arvest Foundation to United Way representatives Heather Coats, executive director, and Erin Calhoun, development director.
“On behalf of Arvest Foundation, we are excited to continue supporting the United Way and the Imagination Library,” Hufstedler said. “Together, we can build a stronger community through programs like this that help children in Craighead County reach their full potential.”
Through Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, children under five years old receive an age-appropriate hardcover book in the mail every month, mailed to their homes with their name on it. United Way has been targeting this program in low-income areas to serve children most in need.
United Way of Northeast Arkansas enrolls eligible children in multiple counties in the program, including 2,200 children in Craighead County each month.
“We would like to thank the Arvest Foundation for their continued support of our in-house Dolly Parton Imagination Library program here in Craighead County,” United Way Executive Director Heather Coats said. “This grant will allow us to provide 160 children with books delivered right to their homes for an entire year. Grants like these are a vital part of keeping this program going for our kids of Craighead County.”