Dolly Parton launched her Imagination Library in 1995 in her hometown of Sevier County, Tenn., and she is now taking her program to Scotland so children there can get a free book every month until they're 5-years-old.
"When I started the Imagination Library in my hometown, I never dreamed that one day we would be helping Scottish kids," Parton tells The Boot. Much of my music has been inspired by Scotland, so it's only right that we are now in a position to bring more joy into the lives of the nation's looked after children."
Bringing the program to Scotland marks the first time her dream has been adopted by an entire government. Under the Scottish Book Trust, 3,341 Scottish children will have a free book every month.
The Imagination Library was the brainchild of Parton, who did not have children of her own but loved them and wanted to "foster a love of reading among her county’s preschool children and their families. She wanted children to be excited about books and to feel the magic that books can create, to insure that every child would have books, regardless of their family’s income." The country legend says she wanted to "put her money where her mouth is -- and with such a big mouth that’s a pretty large sum of money."
With a heart as big as they come, Parton is now also supporting the Boot Campaign, where all proceeds from boot sales are donated to partner charities, including the Lone Survivor Foundation.
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