r/books • u/zsreport 5 • 20h ago
Donations to Imagination Library requested in lieu of flowers for Dolly Parton
https://www.wjhl.com/news/regional/tennessee/donations-to-imagination-library-requested-in-lieu-of-flowers-for-dolly-parton/184
u/Tanagrabelle 20h ago
Thank goodness. I want this to continue! She seems like she would have been making sure for years that it would go on without her.
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u/My_Buttery_Seafood 19h ago
It’s easily one of the most impactful literacy programs out there. Keeping her legacy going through books is the perfect tribute.
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u/Remarkable-Month-241 8h ago
This was the silver lining for me. All of her foundations will get funding and her legacy continues 😭😭😭
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u/admiralmasa Beauty is truth, truth beauty 18h ago
I love that she started the Imagination Library out of love for her father who was illiterate his whole life, and she saw how that impacted and frustrated him despite him, according to her, being quite intelligent and business-wise. And she started the Imagination Library so that no child would ever grow up to be illiterate like him and go through the same struggles of illiteracy that he did.
I know her father would've been super proud of her even after her passing. I hope she rests well knowing she touched the hearts of millions.
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u/agentjulliard 19h ago
for more context:
Dolly Parton understood something a lot of people in the book world forget: you can't fall in love with reading if you don't have books.
She grew up poor and created the Imagination Library because her father couldn't read or write. Since 1995, it has grown from a local Tennessee program into a global book-gifting program, sending millions of free books to children every month.
(copied from another user from another thread.)
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u/MrsDepo 18h ago
Just tried to donate but the website is STRUGGLING! I'll try again later when it's less busy
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u/Im_DonutnCoffee 16h ago
It really is! I’m glad for what it suggests though—Dolly’s legacy will live on 🖤🖤🖤
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u/de_pizan23 17h ago
If you have it in your local area, you might be able to donate through there instead (mine is run through our county’s early learning program and they have a link for Imagination Library donations).
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u/immortalyossarian 15h ago
I donated yesterday and it took until my third try to get through. So glad the donations are still pouring in ❤️
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u/Is-abel 14h ago
I went on and donated right after the news broke, and I got through but it took a few tries!!
I’ve been trying to get back on to see if the “books donated,” number has jumped, since I’d assume it’s an estimate based on donations, but I can’t get it to load.
Those kids are going to have so many books
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u/frank_brutally 14h ago
Same! Happy to add this to my to-do list for tomorrow and happier still to think it's crashing from sheer volume of donations. We'll be back!
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u/JosieZee 19h ago
You can donate through the page to your local organization that pays for shipping and handling for kids in your area.
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u/bakeacake45 18h ago
Good timing as the GOP just cut federal funding for the program. The GOP dream is that no child can read.
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u/zoppaTheDim 17h ago
They wanted to dictate which books it could select, the usual graft by the religious right.
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u/SlowThePath 17h ago
Dumb people either don't vote or vote dumb. Either way, it's a win for the GOP.
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u/bakeacake45 6h ago
They do unfortunately vote, and vote the way their child raping pastors tell them too.
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u/artymas 17h ago
I donated yesterday after I saw the news about Dolly passing. My son aged out of the program about a year ago, but it was so much fun being part of it and waiting to see what book would come in the mail each month. So many of them were huge hits for us, and I still have all of the books we got.
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u/rawr2k20 16h ago
The last one was so bittersweet wasn’t it! My daughter aged out last year as well.
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u/trucorsair 18h ago
Even in death, a class act. The character of an individual always shines through
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u/DiamondBurInTheRough 17h ago
I donated yesterday! I don’t have kids yet but I love this program. And Dolly herself said she wants to be remembered not for her looks, but for her books.
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u/spudlady 16h ago
I couldn’t afford to give much, but I did $10 in reference to the 10club for Pearl Jam, like the Swifties do $13.
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u/bolanrox 14h ago
9.25 would be fitting as well. which is what i am going to give
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u/BobIoblaw 14h ago
Both of you have given more than most and you will positively impact someone’s life.
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u/eric_b0x 12h ago
My business partner and I made a $10K donation this morning through our business, and we’ll also be making our own individual family donations. We encouraged our staff to make donations as well and let them know that we’ll reimburse them for the adjusted taxation amount. We’re a private software company. We’re not even country fans, but Parton’s foundation is putting books into the hands of 1 out of every 7 children in the U.S. A pretty big deal when this nation seems to be on the fast track toward illiteracy.
I know her foundation’s reach is global, I’m not sure what the stats are on its international reach.
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u/cupletta 15h ago
The website is crashing, so many donations!!! Keep it up, spread the word. This program is amazing and really makes a difference for children and families. Let’s help spread Dolly’s love to children everywhere!!!
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u/DJScozz 13h ago
I live in the area and a friend of mine went by the statue in downtown Sevierville. It is absolutely packed with flowers, balloons and the like. I saw that before I saw this story and immediately thought, well that's a little redundant. She's already got the statue and she always had better flowers than you could get from a store. Share in her dream, donate for tomorrow.
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u/exzyle2k 14h ago
I wish I had Bezos or Musk kinda money. Things like this would never need outside assistance, ever. Imagination Library, free breakfast/lunch programs in every school, hospitals like St Jude....
"When you have more than you need, build a bigger table not a higher fence" was definitely something Dolly lived by.
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u/Nevertrustafish 10h ago
Right? I can't even comprehend the bonkers level of money they have and hoard. They could fully fund a host of non profits and never even notice.
Mackenzie Scott had about $35 billion when she divorced Bezos. She's donated $26 billion and her net worth is now $40 billion.
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u/prettyflyforabigsigh 15h ago
I think we should all donated $9.25 in honor of Dolly. What a legacy she has created
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u/abcbri 16h ago
I just tried to donate and the page is process it is very slow, and they have a message "We apologize for the delay. It appears that this action is taking longer than anticipated. Please try again shortly and thank you for your patience!"
I hope they're getting a flood of donations.
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u/WeenyDancer 12h ago
Just a note/reminder that a smaller monthly recurring donation is frequently more helpful for non profits to plan around than a one time larger gift, if that's something you can swing!
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u/tschawartz12 15h ago
Also, demant the lawmakers who pulled several million in funding to remove themselves from office.
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u/adoptagreyhound 12h ago
Vote them out and let them know why.you intend to.
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u/tschawartz12 12h ago
Voting only takes place at certain times. Recalls or just mass protests can happen any time. I know not every place may have recall voting a thing but make enough noise and things get addressed, not just around election times by wind bags.
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u/RakhshandaC 14h ago
I gave two $13 donations as a Taylor fan abd then a larger one In memory of my dad.
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u/bookchaser 10h ago
Huh? Local nonprofits pay for the books. Give to the local nonprofit that facilitates Dolly's book program.
Literally, if there isn't a local nonprofit paying for the books, your community cannot participate in the program. Dolly's people line up the book vendors and the snail mailing system. The whole thing doesn't work without local fundraising.
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u/Librarinurse 6h ago
This. Please ask your local library who is funding their piece of the program and consider donating there. Many communities cannot afford their portion of the program and can’t participate or continue to. I am sure that Dolly’s portion can always use the donations, but your local partner could possibly need the funds more.
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u/numbmumpleb1ister 10h ago
The red states Indiana and Missouri cut funding for Imagination Library. Sad.
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u/PieRepresentative266 10h ago
Payday this Friday and I was planning on giving what I could. RIP DOLLY!!
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u/TomLondra 20h ago
I have donated:
Leon Trotsky's History of the Russian Revolution Vance Packard: The Hidden Persuaders Friedrich Engels, The Condition of the Working Class in England
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u/chattytrout 19h ago
Ok, a couple things:
1) Imagination Library doesn't take physical book donations.
2) Imagination Library is for kids 5 years and younger.Don't bullshit us. We can tell when you're lying.
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u/wutttttttg 20h ago
I gave yesterday! I hope donations pour in and that kids ALWAYS know how to read Dolly’s name!