Exclusive | NY state joins in special touching tribute to Dolly Parton and her Imagination Library
New York state is buying books from Dolly Parton’s library charity to distribute to kids under age 5 in a touching fitting tribute to the late country-music icon’s literacy legacy.The state Office of Children and Family Services is seeking two “solicitations of interest,” or proposals, from not-for-profit entities including school districts and even hospitals to join it in buying up and donating books from Parton’s “Imagination Library.”The state will pay 50% of costs up to $50,000 in each instance to purchase the books and then also cover mailing costs to provide eligible children up to age 5 with a book per month.The winning bidders would cover the remaining costs.Parton’s Imagination Library handles administrative costs and negotiates better prices with children’s publishers for its supply.The beloved mega-star singer died at age 80 on Aug.25 after a short bout with cancer.Parton, whose father was illiterate, started her Imagination Library in 1995 for the children within her home county in Tennessee.
The program took off and expanded throughout the US, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia and Ireland with government support.Literacy is such a priority that even New York hospitals bid to deliver books from the Parton Library to parents of newborns, according to prior awards issued by the state in March.“I am considering applying for your Solicitation of Interest for the Dolly Parton Imagination Library, on behalf of a children’s hospital.I envision enrolling every child delivered at our hospital and admitted to the Mother-Baby Unit within the one-year time frame,” a bidder wrote.The winning bidders must enter into a Memorandum of Agreement with Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library to participate.According to the Parton website, 332.4 million books have been distributed to kids since its inception.Nearly 3.2 million kids are currently registered to receive books.One in six children in the US have received books from the Parton Library.Abou...