"This actually started because my father could not read and write and I saw how crippling that could be. My dad was a very smart man. And I often wondered what he could have done had he been able to read and write. So that is the inspiration."
"The Imagination Library now operates in thousands of communities across the U.S., Canada, the UK, Ireland, and Australia, gifting more than 3 million books every month and having mailed more than 270 million in total as of 2025."
East Tennessee Children's Hospital in Knoxville has been renamed after country music legend Dolly Parton, reflecting her extensive philanthropic work benefiting children and families in Tennessee and beyond. Parton's charitable focus stems from witnessing her father's illiteracy during her childhood, which inspired her lifelong dedication to education and children's welfare. Her Imagination Library has distributed over 270 million books globally across multiple countries, gifting more than 3 million books monthly to communities. Parton received the Carnegie Medal of Philanthropy in 2022 for her contributions. The hospital partnership represents a deepened commitment to treating every child with exceptional care and support.
#dolly-parton-philanthropy #childrens-health-and-education #imagination-library #literacy-programs #hospital-naming
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