ESCANABA, Mich. (WZMQ) – As fans around the world mourn the passing of Dolly Parton, local organizations in the U.P. and across the country are keeping her legacy alive.
In 1995, the late country singer founded Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.
“Dolly started this kind of to honor her father,” said United Way of Delta County Executive Director Julie Mallard. “He did not know how to read or write, so this was sort of her way of paying tribute to her dad and providing literacy to kids.”
From birth until they reach the age of 5, children enrolled in the program receive a free book in the mail each month. Some are written in both English and Spanish, while others include reading tips.
United Way has been sponsoring a local branch of the program since 2017. Currently, more than 1,000 children are enrolled in the area.
“The whole purpose is to help children build a home library before they start kindergarten,” Mallard said. “Owning a book that’s your very own is such a special feeling, especially when you’re little. It just boosts those early literacy skills that are so, so important in the first few years of life when the brain is developing. Nurturing that love of reading, that’s what it’s all about.”
Mallard says Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library has an incredible impact on kids and their families.
“Children don’t always have easy access to books,” she said. “This is totally free. We have people that will say, ‘My kids watch the mailbox because they get so excited about it.’ We’re so grateful for Dolly’s vision and her passion for early childhood literacy. We’re all going to miss her, but her legacy is going to live on for generations because of this program.”
To see if Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is available in your area, visit imaginationlibrary.com. To learn more about the local program sponsored by United Way of Delta County, visit uwdelta.org.
