Following Dolly Parton’s recent passing, her family has directed mourners to support her Imagination Library rather than sending flowers. The literacy initiative represents a significant humanitarian achievement that complemented Parton’s renowned music and film career.
Parton established the Imagination Library in 1995 in her native Sevier County, Tennessee, inspired by her father’s struggles with illiteracy. The program delivers free, age-appropriate books monthly to children from birth through age five, providing each participant with approximately 60 books by program completion. The Dollywood Foundation manages costs and pricing negotiations, while local partners cover mailing expenses, ensuring participating families pay nothing. Since its inception, the program has registered 3.2 million children and distributed over 332 million books across the United States, Canada, Australia, Ireland, and the United Kingdom. In 2018, Parton donated her 100 millionth book to the Library of Congress.
The Dollywood Foundation has pledged to continue Parton’s work, stating her legacy will endure through children receiving personalized books and families sharing stories together. Those wishing to honor Parton’s memory can contribute through the Imagination Library’s official website, which accepts online donations to sustain this educational initiative for future generations.
Originally reported by Mashable →
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