Reviewed by: Mary Helene Hall
Children’s of Alabama sends kids home with free Dolly Parton books
Reading time: 2 minutes
In honor of “Give Like Dolly Day,” Children’s of Alabama is now an enrollment partner for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library of Alabama.
The new Children’s of Alabama pilot program will provide a copy of the Imagination Library’s welcome book, The Little Engine That Could, as well as enrollment materials to children under five being discharged from any of the hospital’s 24 inpatient units.
About Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library
The Dollywood Foundation, home of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, announced shortly after Dolly’s passing, Give Like Dolly Day as a global day of support for local Imagination Library programs. It will be celebrated every year on Sept. 25 — a callback to her hit song “9 to 5.”
The Imagination Library was established by Dolly in 1995 as a way to honor her father, who could not read or write. It now mails a free book each month to children from birth to age 5. Local partners raise the funds to cover the cost of the books and mailing in their communities.
The impact of the Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library of Alabama has been far-reaching. Currently, the program serves 124,000 children across all 67 Alabama counties and has mailed more than three million books since the launch of the statewide program in 2023.
“Thank you to Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library of Alabama for launching this meaningful partnership for the children in our care. We are proud to celebrate Dolly’s legacy, and the positive impact reading can have on the lives of children and families.”
Chandler Bibb, chief development officer at Children’s of Alabama
Birmingham celebrates Give Like Dolly Day
Numerous Birmingham area non-profits and businesses are celebrating Give Like Dolly Day.
Events include:
- Magic City Pop-Up Plaza on the 17th Street Plaza at Railroad Park between 4PM to 7PM
- Dress Like Dolly at The Burrows Bookstore in Leeds from 10AM to 8PM
- Donate children’s books at Rojo Birmingham on Sept. 25 through Oct. 31. The books are donated to Better Basics a local literacy group.
Sign up for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library of Alabama at https://imaginationlibrary.com/alabama/
How are you celebrating Give Like Dolly Day? Let us know on social media by tagging us in the comments section at @bhamnow
