Charleston, W.Va. (WVDN) – Dawn Miller, Executive Director of Read Aloud West Virginia, announced the launch of a fundraising campaign to remember the late Dolly Parton and the Imagination Library she created to promote literacy.
For the month of September, in memory of Dolly Parton, Read Aloud West Virginia will share any donations dollar for dollar with Parton’s award-winning Imagination Library partners in West Virginia, if donors note “in memory of Dolly” when donating to Read Aloud WV online, by mail, in person or via stocks.
“Dolly was so special,” said Miller. “When she created Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library 31 years ago and made it available in other states, including West Virginia, we began to realize she had been lifting us up in ways other than her wonderful music.”
Miller indicated that Imagination Library provides books from birth to age five and Read Aloud West Virginia’s primary mission is to offer books and resources for school-aged children. “This allows Dolly’s passion to intersect with our core mission and enhance reading, literacy, educational attainment and quality of life for more West Virginians.”
Miller said Read Aloud only has resources to have formal programs in 28 West Virginia counties, but enjoys some level of presence in 40 counties, and responds to teacher requests for books for school-aged children from all 55 counties of the Mountain State.
“There are so many unmet needs in the Mountain State to help our youth become good readers, students and lifelong learners,” said Miller. “The lack of resources forces our non-profit to make tough choices, and Dolly would want to ensure all youth interested in reading and literacy get an opportunity to do so. Right now, that is not the case.”
“What we are doing works,” Miller said. Providing classroom volunteers to read to children for fun, helping parents to understand their value in reading to children from birth, and then giving children engaging books that they want, it all supports the instruction children receive in school.
Parton’s own father never learned to read or write. Her Imagination Library foundation set out to correct that condition for millions of children by sending newborns a book a month until they turned age five. Sixty books at home are a major factor in growing up to be a reader. “It was and still is a brilliant approach,” noted Miller. “Dolly understood the physical barriers to literacy and has helped millions of families overcome some of them.”
Miller said she remembers when Dolly’s Imagination Library came to West Virginia 20 years ago. “It was a cause for celebration, “she said, “to have Dolly Parton lending her name and fortune to the cause of early childhood literacy.”
Read Aloud West Virginia – celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2026 — works in the same space as Imagination Library, and Miller collaborates with its West Virginia partner. “While the Dolly Parton Foundation covers the costs of administering Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, regions must raise the funds to buy the actual books,” said Miller. “This is another major reason why more financial support is needed as schools are just returning to session.”
Checks can be sent to Read Aloud West Virginia, P.O. Box 1784, Charleston, WV 25326, or online at https://readaloudwv-101341.square.site/
For DAF donors, our FEIN is 55-0671504. Stock transfers can be made directly from their institution for tax purposes; they can direct their institution to transfer to Read Aloud West Virginia at United Brokerage ( DTC: 0141) or call us for details.
