Kansas City’s Folly Theater was transformed into the “Dolly” Theater on Tuesday as music icon Dolly Parton celebrated the expansion of her Imagination Library program in Missouri. Parton, known for her country music career, founded the Imagination Library in 1995 to promote literacy. The program sends free books to children aged 5 and under every month.
Missouri became the 14th state to launch the program statewide and the first to fully fund it with $11 million allocated by the legislature. Parton emphasized the importance of early childhood literacy and how learning to read opens doors to education.
More than 137,000 children have enrolled in the program since its launch, but there are still 262,000 eligible children in Missouri. The Imagination Library is available to all children regardless of income and aims to promote reading and early development.
Governor Mike Parson declared August 27 as “Imagination Library of Missouri” day and praised Parton for her dedication to making a difference in children’s lives. The event featured a performance by Parton, where she sang some of her classic hits.
Fans dressed up in pink and Western attire to show their support for Parton and her literacy initiative. Attendees expressed admiration for Parton’s philanthropic work and the impact of the Imagination Library program on children’s development.
Overall, the event showcased the positive impact of the Imagination Library on early childhood literacy in Missouri and highlighted Parton’s commitment to promoting education and reading among children.
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Photo credit www.ksmu.org