Republicans Cut Funding for Dolly Parton’s Child Reading Program
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library said it will keep sending free books to kids under five across the U.S. and abroad.
The Imagination Library, Dolly Parton's book-gifting initiative, will continue distributing free books to children under five in the United States and abroad following the country star's passing. However, the program's future in certain states is now in doubt due to Republican lawmakers cutting or reducing funding. In Indiana, state financing was eliminated from the budget last year, leaving the program to seek private philanthropic support.
The Vice Chair and President of the Dollywood Foundation expressed hope that Governor Braun and the Indiana Legislature would restore state funding. Missouri lawmakers similarly reduced funding for the program, decreasing it from around $6 million to $2 million for the upcoming fiscal year, which led to a freeze on new enrollments starting July 1.
Existing enrollees will still receive books as long as funding persists. Missouri was the first state to fully fund the Imagination Library.
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