Dolly Parton's beloved literacy mission sees surge of support after country icon's death

Following the death of country music icon Dolly Parton, her Imagination Library literacy program has seen a significant surge in support in Alabama, particularly for a proposed specialty license plate. The initiative aims to fund the program, which provides free books to children until they turn five, and has garnered hundreds of commitments shortly after Parton’s passing. This effort seeks to secure ongoing funding for local programs and continue Parton’s legacy of inspiring a love for reading.

• Hundreds of Alabamians have backed a proposed specialty license plate to fund Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library after her death.
• The number of commitments for the license plate surged from around 40 to over 550 in just 24 hours.
• Each license plate would contribute approximately $50 annually to the Imagination Library program in the child’s registered county.
• Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, founded in 1995, has distributed over 300 million books worldwide.
• About 114,000 Alabama children are currently enrolled in the program, with registrations increasing rapidly.
• The program aims to foster a love of reading by providing free books to children from birth to age five.
• Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey announced a statewide expansion of the program in 2023, aiming for coverage in all 67 counties by early 2025.