Dolly Parton continues her dedication to early childhood literacy through an extraordinary $4.5 million investment from her Dollywood Foundation to launch Nashville Public Library’s (NPL) new early literacy program, Begin Bright. This major contribution, hailed as the “most significant gift” in the NPL Foundation’s 27-year history, aims to provide every Nashville child with resources to start kindergarten ready to read. Parton’s funding will help distribute Little Libraries stocked with books from her Imagination Library and other educational materials to every childcare center in Nashville, accompanied by a new app offering digital early literacy training for parents and teachers. This ambitious program, expected to roll out in 2025, will also undergo analysis by Vanderbilt University’s Prenatal to 3 Policy Impact Center to develop a measurable model that can be implemented nationwide.
Parton expressed her excitement about the partnership, highlighting Nashville’s role as a leader in early literacy: “I really believe this partnership can make a huge impact on inspiring a love of reading for children and families. And one of the best parts is that Nashville can once again light the way for the nation.” The Dollywood Foundation’s contribution of books and financial support marks a pivotal step in Begin Bright’s goal of raising $20 million to ensure its sustainability and build a program endowment.
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, originally founded in Tennessee, will celebrate its 30th anniversary next year. Having grown to all 50 states and five countries, the program currently mails over three million free books to children every month. With a focus on children from birth to age five, the Imagination Library has made lasting impacts on early childhood literacy by ensuring access to age-appropriate, high-quality books.
NPL Foundation President Shawn Bakker expressed gratitude, saying, “We are humbled by Ms. Parton’s incredible act of generosity… [This] historic financial contribution will enable the Library to accelerate launch of this program within the fiscal year. Dolly Parton is a transformational figure in worlds of philanthropy and literacy, and we are thrilled to partner with her and excited about the impact this promises to have on our city.”
Terri Luke, NPL’s Interim Library Director, also underscored the partnership’s significance, stating, “We are honored to join Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library in this first-in-the-nation partnership. Nashville Public Library is committed to setting our city’s young children on a pathway to reading success… this partnership now sets us on an inspired, heart-filled journey together – a legend, a library, and the community it serves.”
Parton’s Imagination Library and the Begin Bright program represent more than just book distribution—they embody a mission to ensure that every child, regardless of background, has the opportunity to develop early literacy skills. By establishing a solid foundation for reading before kindergarten, Parton and NPL aim to create lifelong learners and enrich entire communities.
0 Comments