Dolly Parton's philanthropic efforts, which spanned from supporting medical research to literacy programmes, are being highlighted. Her Imagination Library, inspired by her father's inability to read, sends free books monthly to children under five. This programme, launched in 1995, began in Sevier County, Tennessee, and has since expanded globally, reaching children in the UK, US, Canada, Ireland, and Australia.
The Imagination Library has distributed over 332.4 million books. Eileen Driver, chair of the Stokesley Imagination Library in the UK, noted Parton's remarkable vision for sharing stories. Scottish National Party councillor Lee Mills is working to bring the Imagination Library to Dundee, aiming to ensure it reaches every child in Scotland.
Beyond literacy, Parton contributed significantly to health initiatives. In 2020, she donated $1 million to Vanderbilt University Medical Center, which supported early-stage trials for the Moderna Covid-19 vaccine. She also made multiple donations to children's hospitals and cancer centres, including $1 million to Nashville's Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt University Medical Center for paediatric infectious disease research.
Her charitable work also included disaster relief, such as raising over $13 million for victims of a 2016 fire in Sevier County and $700,000 for residents affected by flooding in Middle Tennessee five years later.