Dolly Parton's Imagination Library reading scheme suffered a significant funding reduction in Missouri just weeks before the country singer's death on August 25 at the age of 80. The programme, which provides one free book monthly to children from birth to age five regardless of family income, saw its state funding for the 2027 financial year cut to USD$2 million (£1.4 million), down from USD$6 million (£4.3 million) the previous year.
Impact on new registrations
A representative for the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education said the diminished funds mean new registrations will not be able to join the programme from July 1. Over its 30-year history, the Imagination Library has given away 332 million books to children across America.
The scheme was inspired by Parton's father, who was illiterate. Parton previously said: "Before he passed away, my Daddy told me the Imagination Library was probably the most important thing I had ever done. I can't tell you how much that meant to me because I created the Imagination Library as a tribute to my Daddy."
Tribute from The Dollywood Foundation
Following news of her death, a spokesperson for The Dollywood Foundation said: "The world grieves with us today and yet we find ourselves just as certain about what comes next. For decades, Dolly and the team at The Dollywood Foundation - home of Dolly Parton's Imagination Library - worked to build something that would last for generations. So it will.
"The work ahead has never felt more meaningful, and we will carry it forward as she lifts us all up. Dolly, we will always love you."
Parton had described her mission: "In the beginning, my hope was simply to inspire the children in my home county but here we are today with a worldwide programme that gives a book a month to [millions of] children."
