MORGANTOWN — A little loosening of the purse strings isn’t necessarily a bad thing, if it’s for a good cause.
That’s what Women United, a United Way of Monongalia and Preston Counties group, asked people to do Thursday evening at the Power of the Purse fundraiser.
People gathered at Morgantown Marriott at Waterfront Place to raise funds for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, which started this spring in Monongalia County.
There were dozens of mid- to high-end purses available at the silent auction, along with entertainment and food. There were also live auctions.
Emily Calandrelli, a Morgantown native who hosts and produces “Xploration Outer Space” on the FOX network, was in attendance.
She is also the author of the “Ada Lace” series of science-themed adventure books for young readers.
The money raised at Thursday’s event will help the Imagination Library, which is available in 39 West Virginia counties. The program gives one free book per month to children from birth to age 5.
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library has sent 1.8 million books to West Virginia children since the program began in 2007. More than 600 children have been signed up in Monongalia County since May.
