North Carolina Honors Dolly Parton With Statewide Day Of Reading

RALEIGH, N.C. – North Carolina is marking Sept. 25 as a day of reading in honor of Dolly Parton and the early-literacy program that has delivered millions of free books to children across the state, including Johnston County.

Gov. Josh Stein proclaimed Sept. 25 — 9/25, a reference to Parton’s 1980 movie and song 9 to 5 — as Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library Day of Reading.

“Dolly Parton was so special: authentic and universally loved. Her music was powerful and moving, and she leaves a lasting impact — from advancing early literacy to helping communities rebuild after Hurricane Helene,” Stein said. “The Imagination Library Day of Reading celebrates Dolly’s life and honors her artistic talents, her humanity, and her legacy of fostering a love of reading for all children. Today let us celebrate her legacy by reading a book or lending a helping hand.”

Parton founded the Imagination Library in 1995 through the Dollywood Foundation. The program mails free, age-appropriate books each month to enrolled children from birth until age 5.

Since its launch, the Imagination Library has distributed more than 300 million books to more than 3 million children around the world.

North Carolina became the first state outside Tennessee to expand the program statewide. Nearly 25 million books have been delivered to children across all 100 counties.

More than 240,000 North Carolina children currently receive a free book each month through the program.

In Johnston County, the program is administered locally by the Partnership for Children of Johnston County. Eligible children can receive a free book each month until their fifth birthday.

North Carolina began partnering with Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library in 2017 through a $3.5 million investment in the state budget. This year’s state budget included $12 million for the program.

The governor’s office said North Carolina parents participating in the program reported an increase in reading to their children every day, from 44 percent before receiving books to 67 percent after participating.

Parton also supported western North Carolina following Hurricane Helene.
She personally donated $1 million to the Mountain Ways Foundation to help families recovering from the storm. Her East Tennessee businesses and the Dollywood Foundation matched that donation with another $1 million, bringing the total contribution to $2 million.

The money was used to help families with immediate needs including groceries, mortgages, insurance and rebuilding expenses.