The “I Will Always Love You” singer Dolly Parton has always proved that she is a woman of values and a kind heart. The well-renowned and internationally acclaimed personality Dolly plays a vital role in helping the upcoming generation have a better education facility. According to her, she believes in what she does and has been supposed to return to society as well.
In her part of the society’s development, Dolly Parton, with a net worth of $650 million, spends hundreds of millions on her dream to expand the opportunity for the children of the society to attain education as she donates money for their books. In 2022, Parton received the Carnegie Medal of Philanthropy, as she has already spent millions on helping children get educated.
Imagination Library of Dolly Parton
Imagination Library is a creation of Dolly Parton’s dream, which she started in 1995 in Sevier County, TN, the place where she was born with a motive to let the children of society have the ability to study, which her father didn’t have, and that’s what inspired her. As per the program, free books are provided to children from birth to the age of five.
As the start of the dream was filled with unselfish desires, within a short span of time, Dolly’s Imagination Library spread from one county to the entire state of Tennessee, and soon she got the title “The Book Lady,” which Dolly embraced with a whole heart.
Dolly had once said, “My daddy just loved it when all the little kids would call me ‘The Book Lady.’ That meant more to him than the fact that I had become a star and worked my butt off.” The foundation has achieved one more milestone with the distribution of over 226 million books for children in five countries.
Per the Imagination Library website, each book costs $2.10, which makes over $475 million in total for the costs of the books alone. Further, with the addition of managing and shipping costs, Dolly makes an investment of over $500 million in her Imagination Library.
What inspired Dolly Parton for the Imagination Library?
Contributing $500 million from your $650 net worth is something very unusual, but Dolly has continued to do it to date. The actual reason that inspired her back then and keeps inspiring her to date is her father. Dolly had shared that her father couldn’t read or write, and she saw how crippling it can be. This connection of emotion with her father inspired her to save the upcoming generation from such misfortune.
Dolly had said, “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.” According to the star, her thought of helping comes from her heart, and she doesn’t do it for attention.
Dolly went on to say, “I get paid more attention than maybe some others who are doing more than me. I just give from my heart.” She also added, “I never know what I’m going to do or why I’m going to do it. I just see a need, and if I can fill it, then I will.”
Her kind heart wants to donate as much as she can. Dolly is also said to be in touch with a saint to do some charitable activities. Her company, Dollywood Co., also extended Dollywood Education Coverage for the employees who want to have further education, which covers the 100% tuition fees and books for all types of employees at Dollywood Parks & Resorts.
