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Dolly Parton’s Legacy Included Bringing Books To Children In North Escambia
August 26, 2026
Country music icon Dolly Parton passed away on Tuesday at age 80, leaving behind not only a legendary music catalog that spanned decades, but also a legacy of philanthropy that touched millions, including children in the North Escambia area through her Dolly Parton Imagination Library program.
The program provides free books monthly to children ages 0-5 in 36 counties’ as her genertoisy spread far beyond the spotlight.
During the summer of 2008, the first books from Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library arrived in the mailboxes of about 300 children in Escambia County, with about half of those in the Century area in cooperation with local partner the Early Learning Coalition of Escambia County, which administered the program locally.
In Century, a local celebration was held at the Camp Fire Century Youth Learning Center; the program’s outreach to Century was funded by the Teaspoon Foundation and Century Pharmacy.
In lieu of flowers, the family is asking for donations to Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.
Pictured above: Four-year-old Jared Bevan enjoys reading one of the books from Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library at Campfire USA in Century on June 28, 2008. Pictured below: Some of the books from the program. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Comments
4 Responses to “Dolly Parton’s Legacy Included Bringing Books To Children In North Escambia”
Dolly told this joke on herself:
What’s worse than a giraffe with a sore throat? Dolly Parton with a chest cold.
My son was a baby when The Dolly Parton Show came on. He cried every time they went to commercial until she returned. He had good taste.
She liked the fact that she was known by millions as The Book Lady, not as a singer or as a buxom woman. Her favorite song was If We Never Meet Again This Side Of Heaven. Jelly Roll hosting Jimmy Kimmel Live last night referred to her as the last person in America that everybody liked. She donated a million dollars for the development of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine to help save millions of lives.
She was a national treasure and I will miss her l, we will always love her:
(and I’d REALLY like to meet Jolene.)
This article is about Escambia County (FL) in 2008! There were local sponsors/groups in 0008 that helped fund/work with the program. Now there are not. That’s the likely reason.
I have a friend who has children under 5 years old. But when they went to check availability for their zip code in Escambia county, this program was not available. I have family in Alabama and they are getting books to their county. Is there anyone who knows why Esacmbia County isn’t available? Or maybe just for schools, not households? This seems odd since this article is about Escambia County.
Both of my children benefitted from this wonderful program. A monthly book in the mail, starting with the Little Engine that Could. Every night we would read to the kids from their Imagination Library books. I miss those times! Thank you, Dolly Parton, for being such a great person to give the gift of reading to so many! Forever a legend!!