Dolly Parton's Literacy Legacy Lives on in New Hanover County
- Country music legend Dolly Parton died Tuesday at age 80, leaving behind the Dolly Parton Imagination Library, which continues providing free books to children from birth to age 5 worldwide.
- Parton launched the program in 1995 in Sevier County, Tennessee, to honor her father, who struggled with illiteracy and could not read or write.
- During its 31-year history, the Imagination Library donated more than 300 million books, with 1 in 6 children under age 5 in the United States now enrolled as of 2026.
- LeAnn Mobley, President of the United Rotary Clubs, affirmed the organization will continue operating: "I know her organization is going to continue to go on, and continue to carry that legacy."
- The Davis School District aims to enroll about 2,000 students this year, while the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra plans a tribute performance next year honoring Parton's legacy.
25 Articles
25 Articles
Dolly Parton's literacy legacy lives on in New Hanover County
WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Dolly Parton’s legacy extends far beyond her music, touching thousands of children and families in New Hanover County through her commitment to early literacy. Following Parton’s death, local leaders are remembering the impact of her Imagination Library program, which she founded in 1995 in honor of her father, who could not read or write. What began as an effort to provide books to children in Tennessee has grown into an…
Dolly Parton's legacy lives on with Imagination Library literacy program in New Jersey
Dolly Parton was more than a music legend. She was also a philanthropist who spent decades giving away millions of books to children through her Imagination Library literacy program.
'She was really a literacy expert': Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library inspires literacy in North Carolina
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library legacy lives on, distributing more than 300 million free books worldwide, including in North Carolina, where it helps children develop a love for reading from birth to age 5.
We tell you what Imagination Library is, Dolly Parton’s program that encourages child reading. After Dolly Parton’s death was confirmed at the age of 80 on August 25, her family reported in a statement that the singer will have a private funeral. What caught the attention of the message was that Dolly Parton’s loved ones did not ask for flowers for the ceremony, but donations for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. That’s how Dolly Parton’s Imag…
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