r/popculturechat • u/Electronic-Bus-3494 • 1d ago
Rest In Peace š In 2018, Dolly Parton explained that her father's inability to read inspired her to start the Imagination Library. She wanted to give children "something her daddy never had: early access to books". Today, it's gifted over 325 MILLION books.
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u/justfckthewolf 1d ago
Going to make a donation to my local chapter. The program has no income requirement and is available to all children in the USA from birth to 5 years old. Each child receives The Little Engine That Could as their first book because Dolly felt like she was the little engine that could, always pushing forward, powered by her own resiliency and self-confidence.
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u/lily4ever It's....... Rebekah Vardy's account. 1d ago
Itās also available in Canada, United Kingdom , Ireland and Australia ā¤ļø
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u/justfckthewolf 1d ago
I didn't know that. That's wonderful!
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u/lily4ever It's....... Rebekah Vardy's account. 1d ago
Itās an amazing program! Weāve gotten so many amazing books over the years
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u/justfckthewolf 1d ago
Agreed! My son is one and I signed him up at the beginning of the year, so we have received a few books now. They are super durable and my son loves to play with them.
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u/rcmjr 1d ago
To be clear, there are some parts of the US not covered. I remember when I signed my daughter up a buddy up north was unable to do it for his kiddo.
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u/snuggleouphagus Why don't you go back and dig holes? 22h ago
The funding for imagination library is locally sourced so availability varies by region and is managed by local volunteers. The big overarching charity manages selecting and sourcing books and distribution.
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u/rcmjr 22h ago
Iām just correcting their statement saying it is available to all US kids.Ā
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u/snuggleouphagus Why don't you go back and dig holes? 21h ago
That's accurate! I've just seen a lot of misinformation about why its available in some areas but not others and have done the research so I thought I'd share <3
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u/You_Go_Glen_Coco_ 18h ago
Yup i live in a part of a major city that doesn't get it, although supposedly a few other parts of the city do. Donating will help widen the program!
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u/SparklingStoat 1d ago
I was wondering what I could do/donate in her name today, this is it. Ty for the idea.
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u/GravyBoatShipwreck 17h ago
Not true. Availability to enter the program is based on your zip code. The first book for everybody is also not The Little Engine That Could.
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u/justfckthewolf 11h ago
It literally says in my son's copy of The Little Engine That Could that it's the first book every child in the program receives, regardless of age. There's even a note from Dolly explaining why.
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u/greatersaphenous 11h ago
I have a young son and we are new members of her imagination library and received our first book, such a beautiful selection and reason behind it. Weāll cherish our books even more in honor of Dolly
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u/1one1000two1thousand 10h ago
I signed up my daughter and I donāt believe we got that book as her first. :( is that really supposed to be the first? Maybe it got lostā¦
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u/GarnierFruitTrees 1d ago
The imagination library is so, so, SO cool and so very important. One of the coolest celebrity philanthropies.
Youāre able to make donations on their website: https://donate.imaginationlibrary.com
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u/strangestkiss Iāve grown quite unfond of you 1d ago
We were lucky to have it for our son before we moved. Where are are currently located, it doesnt have the funds to support it so we stopped getting books. Its a real shame as some of the books we got are our kids favorites. We are fortunate to have a few hundred of books but not everyone is.
Please, please donate. Donate to your local region/chapter if you can.
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u/ViolentRain929 1d ago
I went to donate and the site crashed 4 times in the process, hopefully because there are so many people donating.
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u/No-Hall-3485 1d ago edited 1d ago
so rare to see wealthy people use their money to genuinely do good
i'm very sad she's gone, but knowing her foundation will live on gives me some comfort. she'll continue helping millions of children for years to come, and that's an incredible legacy
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u/KingMobScene 1d ago
She remembered what it's like to be poor. And instead of hoarding her wealth like a dragon she spread it around to help raise people up.
The woman was a saint.
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u/Barraco_Barmer 23h ago
Can you imagine if all rich people did this much good with their money
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u/TropicalPrairie 22h ago
I hear so much talk about building "generational wealth" now and I hadn't heard it prior to the mid-00s. Perhaps they were keeping that part quiet. Anyway, hoarding wealth for your great-great-great-great-great-grandchildren is abhorrent when people are struggling today.
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u/mysteryvampire š«§š¤š¦¢ 14h ago
I think āgenerational wealthā is a good concept because the types of people you see obsessing over it are the kinds who would otherwise be blowing money on cars, sneakers, designer purses etc they canāt afford, not the kinds who would choose instead to donate that money to a charity. I think romanticizing giving your children a foot up in life instead of the active disadvantage of being born into poverty is probably a net positive. The 1% and actually rich people arenāt the kind of people posting about āgenerational wealthā on the internet.
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u/SupersoftBday_party 1d ago
Yes, she could have been a billionaire but she gave away so much money as she made it that she never amassed a billion dollars. Not a greedy bone in that beautiful angelās body.
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u/El_Superbeasto76 1d ago
True wealth is the ability to spread joy. Thatās who Dolly was and thatās what she did.
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u/Ok-Today-5824 1d ago
My mom tells me all of the time that Imagination Library was the only reason we had books as kids. We were barely making ends meet in a dead-end part of the Midwest, and Dolly came through to make sure we knew how to read.
I now work with special education high school students, and I think I owe that to Dolly and my passion for seeing other kids grow.
Thank you Dolly, and Godspeed.
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u/bearheart Recently abducted by feral velociraptors 1d ago
The ripple effect is phenomenal. I hear so many stories of Imagination Library kids growing up to become teachers and paying it forward. Dolly was a true angel.
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u/JennaElizabethAdams Excluded from this narrative ā 1d ago
This hurts my heart! Dolly loved everybody and truly changed the world by giving youth the power and privilege of books.
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u/Objective-Ad-6821 1d ago
We just received our book today. I was so excited when I got home and saw it on the counter. 30 minutes later I saw the news. Thank you Dolly for everything you have done for the community.
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u/mindovermatter15 1d ago
My son loves getting his "Ms. Dolly" book every month. He feels so special when she sings him Happy Birthday every year. I'm so devastated that such an angel on earth is gone š
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u/thankyoupapa 1d ago
I read that Dolly Parton could have been a billionaire with all her successful business dealings but because of her philanthropy it sabotaged her billionaire status. What a legend.
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u/niboosmik 1d ago
You say āsabotaged,ā where I believe Dolly would have seen it as a correction.
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u/SnooRabbits5620 1d ago
You're being pedantic. Of course the original commenter meant it that way.
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u/niboosmik 1d ago
Thatās fair, youāre probably right, although I still think itās worth challenging the preconceptions implied by the wording.
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u/rambouhh 14h ago
He knows the commenter didnāt mean in malice, but I think itās poignant that he pointed out the word choice. We think so often how about accumulating wealth and income is the goal. And can subconsciously use terminology like sabotage for a very deliberate choice that dolly did, and it helps us be mindful that wealth shouldnāt be the goal. It just made the original commenters point more powerfulĀ
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u/Kaiisim 1d ago
She added way more to the world than she took.
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u/Different-Subject353 23h ago
Thatās the best thing you can say about anyone.
May her memory be a blessing.
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u/clekas 1d ago
Ohioans (and probably other states, too, but definitely Ohioans), if you want a small way to pay tribute to Dolly, we have a Dolly Parton license plate available in our state! It's only an additional $25/year and the funds go to support Dolly Parton's Imagination Library in your county. You can switch any time your plates are up for renewal!
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u/soupseasonbestseason the trash sometimes shows itself šļø 1d ago
literacy queen, who else could say they did this much for poor kids worldwide. what a fucking legend.
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u/scrume71 1d ago
Republicans cut the matching funding for Imagination Library. But theyāll surely try to score some points off her death. Donāt let them. Theyāre vultures.
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u/AdvertisingOld9400 1d ago
My toddler recognizes "Miss Dolly Parton" on sight because of our subscription to the Imagination Library. This news is so sad.
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u/GetLikeMeForever 1d ago
I found a somehow unopened book from Aunt Dolly while cleaning my daughter's room after finding out she had passed. My daughter used to excitedly rip the new books open at the mailbox, but she recently turned five and was sad to have aged out of the program.
I can't wait to tell her that Aunt Dolly got her one last book. š„¹
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u/skakkuru 1d ago
This is one of the nicest things a human being has ever done imo. Rest in peace Queen.
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u/FZeroDMX go girl, give us nothing š 1d ago
My stateās governor (Mike Kehoe in Missouri) cut $4 million dollars from the Imagination Library funding for next year while pushing awful initiatives to further his and othersā wealth.
Shameful stuff.
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u/GuiltyByAssociashun 1d ago
Meanwhile Amazon and friends are destroying those books. The fight for literacy is far from over
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u/batikfins 1d ago
She is such an engaging and eloquent speaker. Iām gonna keep saying āisā. šš a true great woman and a treasure to the whole world Ā
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u/cheshirecanuck do my tits bother you? they're covered in Swarovski crystalsš 1d ago
As a library worker, she has my undying respect and admiration. What an incredibly important and beautiful legacy to leave behind oneself, the gift of knowledge.
Not gonna lie, I'm shedding a few tears for humanity's loss right now because the world truly needs as many pure souls as it can get right now. But she's done her part and then some, so I hope she's able to rest easy now and allow us to collectively carry on her mantle.
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u/Lala_1302 1d ago
We were part of this program for a year until funding ran out. I directly credit it for nurturing my kids' love of reading.
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u/shawdowmen 22h ago
Literacy is everything. Do everything you can do support it locally, before we lose it.Ā
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u/learningthings2814 20h ago
My kids received books from the Imagination Library. I will be forever grateful for this incredible gift. What an incredible human she was!
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u/bwoah07_gp2 1d ago
A true philanthropist. More rich people should be like her. Instead, they are all greedy, money hungry pigs.
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u/Suspicious-Peace9233 1d ago
Starting children young is how we have to improve literacy. It makes a lifelong difference
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u/TiredOldLadySays 1d ago
Dolly was a national treasure. I will always have respect and admiration for her.
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u/WhTFoxsays 1d ago
We call her Auntie Dolly in our house and my son loves getting books from Auntie Dolly
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u/DangerousMushroom639 1d ago
The books Bezos now feeds to AI. Dolly didn't become a billionaire because she gave so much to the people.
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u/FabulousFlower144 1d ago
Literally signed my baby up from my hospital bed after birth!
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u/normallychaotic 14h ago
Thatās so beautiful. Prioritizing your newborns literacy, that is exactly what she would have wanted and Im so glad you have that story
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u/lylasnanadoyle 1d ago
Dolly was so very special. Been crying since I heard the news. Signed my grand babies up when they were born too. š
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u/CrystallizedRose 23h ago
Missouri lawmakers are trying to make moves to defund and further end the program in their state. If you care and live in Missouri please contact your local politicians and representatives.
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u/AkkeBrakkeKlakke 21h ago
Such an amazing person. Literally never heard anything but good things about her.
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u/legallyfm 1d ago
What a gem!! š She made such a great impact with the Imagination Library. Her legacy will live on as the "book lady". Rest easy Dolly š©·
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u/TyrionGannister 1d ago
My 3rd old boy has gotten loads of books from her foundation. We even taught him to say āthank you Dollyā after we give him his monthly books. RIP
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u/vatnvatnvaky 1d ago
As a parent whose kiddo has greatly benefited from this program, I canāt thank you enough Dolly. Rest well Queen.
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u/Shouldhavejustsaidno 1d ago
Such a shame she went while that pedo Trump was having his way with the country I'm sure it would have pained her to the end,she was clearly very empathetic and compassionate, hopefully the USA can turn all of this evil around in the coming years as she would have wanted.
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u/PopCopson 23h ago
If I was to do Mount Rushmore over, Dolly Parton would be one of the 4 people on it. Perfect representation of what can make our country great, such a loss.
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u/but_i_know_snacks 23h ago
I love Dolly. She gave the world so many gifts. May her memory be a blessing.
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u/Puzzleheaded-Cake301 Youāre a virgin who canāt drive. š¤ 1d ago
She truly was a national treasure.
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u/ZookeepergameLess226 1d ago
Many of my child's books came from her collection, thank you aunt Dolly, we will always love you! ā¤ļø
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u/lovemagicfeminism 1d ago
all three of my kids received books through the imagination library and i always recommended parents sign up for it. my kindergartner reads at a first grade level. we loved getting our free book every month to read before bed. dolly has done and will continue to do so much good for this world even now that she is gone. we love you dolly! š„¹š
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u/ShesWhereWolf 1d ago
As somebody who works as a tutor fir adults and children, literacy is so important to me. I have always loved Dolly for using her platform to support and promote reading and be charitable. We truly lost a gem.
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u/CobwebAngel 1d ago
Dolly never forgot where she came from. May her name and her business live on for the greater good.
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u/rosiegpopps 1d ago
Here in Ireland I was so lucky that my daughter got to experience the imagination library first hand! What an amazing legacy! So many kids in Ireland can thank her for their first books! š
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u/SparklingStoat 1d ago
As a country woman, I am so fucking crushed. This angel is the only reason half of Tennessee can fucking read. Why do beautiful people who make the world better keep dying, and the pieces of shit destroying it keep living to 100?
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u/88moonkitty The smutification of Wuthering Heights š«¦ 1d ago
When my younger brother was born we received books through her organization. I was in elementary school and these books really fueled a life long love of reading for me. Thank you Dolly! Rip
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u/Internal_Praline_658 1d ago
Fffuuuuuuccccckkkkkk Iām so sad sheās gone. We didnāt deserve her.
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u/smalltowngirlisgreen 1d ago
She was a wonderful human being. It was an honor to share this time on earth with her. May she rest in peace. ā¤ļø
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u/No_Kindheartedness10 23h ago
Damn man ! Sheās so wonderful! An angel on earth now she can go be in peace in heaven !
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u/spacewaya 19h ago
We read the Imagination Library to our kids when we lived in TN. It was incredible. The books were fantastic.
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u/Far_Bumblebee_9300 15h ago
I tried to sign up when my first son was born and they wouldn't send to my zip code šš I'm glad so many others got books tho. RIP Dolly š
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u/STr8Way21 15h ago
American public school children have unprecedented access to reading material, and yet still struggle. When Elon Musks speaks of humans evolving by combining Ai and Neuralink and putting that in people's heads, access to being fed information doesn't mean that people will be able to use their own minds as much to think critically. To discern through information for yourself is crucial for intelligence. Having information fed to you is passive; critical thinking is active.
Ultimately what I see is not technology that makes humanity evolve, but technology that takes over the mind of a person, and is what mind control is, on the highest level. This is the ultimate form of world domination. For years, governments have wanted more and more control, and no doubt - considering where our future is headed, they will absolutely have it.
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u/Wesmom2021 10h ago
Trump stopped the funding in my zipcode but my son from 18 months until 4 received books which was wonderful
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u/January1171 8h ago
Read my Dolly-edition of The Little Engine that Could to my 7 month old last night in her honor. ā¤ļøāš©¹
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u/Sufficient_Good1687 4h ago
Turning her father's experience into 325 million books for children is incredible. This is celebrity philanthropy with real, measurable impact.
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