North Carolina Communities Marked Give Like Dolly Day
The state celebrated the impact of a program that delivers free books to hundreds of thousands of young children.
Updated on Oct. 4, 2026 in Philanthropy
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North Carolina residents recently observed Give Like Dolly Day to honor the Dolly Parton Imagination Library. The program provides free monthly books to children across the state from birth to age five.
Why it matters
The initiative aims to inspire a lifelong love of reading in young children by providing accessible literature. The program serves as a critical educational resource supported by state funding and local partnerships.
More than 28 million books have been mailed to North Carolina children since the program expanded statewide in 2017. Currently, the service reaches participants in all 100 North Carolina counties.
The players
Dolly Parton
The country music icon and philanthropist founded the Imagination Library in 1995 in honor of her father.
North Carolina Partnership for Children
This organization leads the Smart Start Network and oversees the implementation of early childhood development initiatives.
The details
The North Carolina Partnership for Children and the Smart Start Network coordinate local outreach to connect families with the program. This statewide effort is sustained through contributions from the North Carolina General Assembly alongside private donations and local investments.
Timeline
Dolly Parton founded the Imagination Library program in 1995.
The program expanded statewide in North Carolina in 2017.
Give Like Dolly Day was celebrated annually on September 25, 2026.
Market Landscape
The Imagination Library operates by integrating into the existing 30-year legacy of the Smart Start initiative to maximize statewide reach. This collaborative model positions the program as a primary pillar of early childhood literacy support in the state.
Families with children under five can enroll in the program to receive free, age-appropriate books delivered directly to their homes. This service removes financial barriers for parents seeking to build home libraries for their children.
The takeaway
Early literacy programs like this are most effective when supported by consistent public and private funding partnerships. Parents can support the program's longevity by engaging with their local Smart Start office to coordinate donations or volunteer efforts.
Further reading
Learn more about local efforts to support youth literacy at the North Carolina Philanthropy section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Richmond County Daily Journal.
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