How to support Dolly Partons Imagination Library

Dolly Parton, the renowned singer and actress, passed away on Tuesday and her family requested donations to her Imagination Library program instead of flowers. Founded in 1995, this literacy initiative aimed to foster a love for reading and learning among children in Sevier County, Tennessee. Parton dedicated the program to her father, who had grown up in rural poverty and never had the chance to attend school.

In the Imagination Library program, free age-appropriate books are delivered to children every month from birth to age 5. By the time a child completes the program, they have received a total of 60 books. The Dollywood Foundation covers certain costs and negotiates book prices, while local partners help with mailing expenses and the actual distribution of books. Participating families are not required to pay for the program.

Since its inception, the Imagination Library has registered over 3.2 million children and has distributed more than 332 million books. The program now operates in various countries, including the United States, Canada, Australia, Ireland, and the United Kingdom. Upon Parton's passing, the Dollywood Foundation emphasized that her legacy would live on through the joy of reading shared with children and families.

To support Imagination Library, individuals can make donations through the program's website. The foundation stated that their work would continue, ensuring that children around the world can experience the benefits of this invaluable literacy initiative, just as Dolly's father was able to witness its success before he passed away in 2000.