How Dolly Parton’s commitment to childhood literacy will continue to impact LA families for generations

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- Dolly Parton’s legacy of philanthropy will continue to impact children across L.A. County for years to come through her Imagination Library program that provides free books to young readers.

Parton, whose charitable efforts included donations to wildfire relief, hurricane recovery and vaccine research, also supported literacy initiatives aimed at encouraging a love of reading among children.

She created Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library as a tribute to her father, who could not read or write.

At her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, mourners reflected on Parton’s generosity and the impact she had on people around the world.

“I think from 1995 until 2011 and then braille, and then audiobooks and all the hundreds of millions of things she did for people ... it’s unbelievable. Honestly, if you hear her in interviews, she wasn’t that articulate but it was so mindblowing what she would say, the simple words she would share ... she was easy to digest because she was so personable and so real and so relatable and so normal, and the gift she gave to people ... that’s unbelievable,” said Michael Coghlan.

For 31 years, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library has provided free books to children from birth to age 5. Since its launch in 1995, the program has donated more than 335 million books worldwide.

Just weeks ago, Antelope Valley Partners for Health brought Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library to L.A. County for the first time, extending the program’s reach to local families.

"She's done videos, explaining the program and how dear it is to her, and how important it is for children to have this opportunity to have exposure to stories and books," said Antelope Valley Partners for Health Executive Director Michelle Fluke.

If you'd like to learn more on how you can enroll your child, click here.