Dolly Parton’s Legacy Lives On Through Imagination Library Serving Central Minnesota Families

Music lovers around the world are mourning the loss of Dolly Parton, who passed away at age 80 on Tuesday. Her impact was felt throughout the world, including right here in Central Minnesota.

HOW MANY BOOKS DID DOLLY PARTON GIVE AWAY 

One of Parton's many philanthropic outlets was her 'Imagination Library,' which allowed kids around the world to receive a free book in the mail every month. To date, Dolly's Imagination Library has shipped out over 332 MILLION books to date- all for free!

Young readers throughout Central Minnesota have benefitted greatly from Parton's generosity. Nearly 7,000 kids are enrolled in the program according to the United Way of Central Minnesota, with 1.7 million books being distributed so far in our area alone!

DONATE TO DOLLY'S MEMORY 

In lieu of flowers, the Parton estate is instead asking mourners to donate to the Imagination Library to keep the program going long after her passing. Donations can be made AT THIS LINK.

CENTRAL MN UNITED WAY: 

Through Dolly Parton's Imagination Library, her extraordinary kindness has reached families far beyond Tennessee, placing hundreds of millions of books into the hands of young children, including more than 1.7 million right here in Central Minnesota.

For us, Dolly’s legacy is personal. It lives on each time a child discovers a new story, a family reads together, or a book arrives in the mailbox with a child’s name on it.

Today, 6,891 children in Central Minnesota are enrolled in Imagination Library, making our program the largest Imagination Library program in Minnesota.

In lieu of flowers, Dolly’s family has asked that donations be made to the Imagination Library, the literacy program she founded and loved so deeply. Gifts made through United Way of Central Minnesota will help continue that legacy by providing free books to children in our community from birth to age five.

Honor Dolly’s life by helping the next generation dream more, learn more, care more and be more.