Dolly Parton was the consummate giver. She could have made money with her money, but instead she gave it away. Instead of counting her money, she counted her blessings.
Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum CEO Kyle Young said it best, “Dolly Parton’s legacy is not celebrity, but humanity.”
Ryan Young of country music said it best: “Dolly’s legacy was not about celebrity; it was about humanity.”
She was a singer, songwriter, actress and entertainer; however, she wanted to be remembered for getting books into the homes and hands of children: "If I'm remembered 100 years from now, I hope it will be not for looks but for books," she once quipped.
Today, her Imagination Library gifts books, free, to over 3 million children every month, and over 330 million books have been given worldwide since it started.
Oceana County, an affiliate of the Imagination Library, can join communities across the nation in remembering Dolly for her books by celebrating “Give Like Dolly Day” on September 25.
Inspired by Dolly's generous heart and her deep belief in giving back to children and communities, the Dollywood Foundation has introduced a new annual tradition: Give Like Dolly Day, taking place each year on Sept. 25.
The idea is simple: the Dollywood Foundation is going to honor Dolly by asking the world to give to their local Imagination Library programs.
On Sept. 25, people everywhere are invited to support this organization doing meaningful work for children where they live — beginning with their local Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library (DPIL) program. And that means those wishing to give like she did are at the heart of this day.
Dolly believed a child’s dreams could be realized within the pages of a book. She saw how illiteracy affected her family members in Sevier County: “My daddy was the smartest man I have ever known, but I knew his inability to read probably kept him from seeing all of his dreams come true."
One of the ideas for a “9 to 5 Dolly Day" came from Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood, who are donating all sales from their Friends in Low Places Bar & Honky-Tonk in Nashville on Sept. 25 to the Imagination Library.
"This is 100 percent about Dolly and her love for children’s literacy,” said Yearwood.
Their idea is catching on with Imagination Library affiliates, as well as communities seeking to become affiliates. Restaurants, inns and brew pubs willing to donate can get details for participation at www.earlybirdbooks.org/DollyDa.... Some are adding a unique feature, e.g., one venue is offering a “Dolly donut,” and an ice cream shop is creating a “Dolly sundae.”
Dolly called the local Imagination Library partners/affiliates the “true heroes” of her program. "Dream more," "learn more," "care more" and "do more" were her mantras.
If you live in Oceana County, be a hero for “Give Like Dolly Day:”
• If you are a business owner, donate a portion of your sales on Sept. 25 to your local Imagination Library; if not, encourage a business owner to participate. For more information, visit www.earlybirdbooks.org/DollyDa..., contact Oceana County DPIL Director Barbara Saunders Sims at Barbara@unitedwaylakeshore.org or this author at janethasselbring23@gmail.com.
• Donate to your local Imagination Library at www.unitedwaylakeshore.org/dpi.... Designate your gift for Oceana County.
• Enroll your child at www.imaginationlibrary.com. Click on Oceana County.
• Let’s give like Dolly. Let’s give for Dolly. And, like Dolly, let’s learn to count our blessings instead of our money.
