Entertainment
Dolly Parton's Imagination Library legacy highlighted following her passing
A final letter sent to graduates of the late music icon's book-gifting program encourages children to keep reading.
The short version
- Following the death of country music icon Dolly Parton at age 80, public attention has focused on her extensive charity work through the Imagination Library.
- A final letter included in books sent to five-year-olds graduating from the program encourages children to continue reading at local public libraries.
- The nonprofit program has distributed more than 330 million free books internationally over its 30-year history.
Key facts
- Dolly Parton died last week at age 80 following a brief battle with cancer and was buried in a private family funeral in Nashville.[Billboard]
- Parton founded the Imagination Library in 1995 in Sevier County, Tennessee, inspired by her father who never learned to read or write.[Billboard]
- The program has mailed more than 330 million free books to children from birth to age five across the U.S., U.K., Ireland, Australia, and Canada.[Billboard]
- A letter sent to graduating five-year-olds tells children 'there is no limit to what you can do' and asks them to promise to keep reading.[Billboard]