Dolly Parton's Imagination Library
Dolly Parton's Imagination Library, founded in 1995, provides free, age-appropriate books to children globally to foster a love of reading. The program aims to ensure all children have access to literature regardless of their family's financial situation.
Why it matters
It highlights the impact of philanthropic literacy initiatives on early childhood development and educational equity.
Inspired by her father’s inability to read and write Dolly started her Imagination Library in 1995 for the children within her home county. Today, her program spans five countries and gifts millions of free books each month to children around the world.
“When I was growing up in the hills of East Tennessee, I knew my dreams would come true. I know there are children in your community with their own dreams. They dream of becoming a doctor or an inventor or a minister. Who knows, maybe there is a little girl whose dream is to be a writer and singer.
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