Busken Bakery Will Honor Dolly Parton with Cookie Sales
Cincinnati shops will donate proceeds from hot pink cookies to the Imagination Library on September 25.
Updated on Sept. 24, 2026 in Philanthropy
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Busken Bakery will celebrate Dolly Parton Day on September 25 by selling themed cookies to support literacy. The Cincinnati bakery plans to donate over $19,000 in proceeds to the Imagination Library.
Why it matters
The initiative supports childhood literacy efforts by funding a program that provides monthly books to children until their fifth birthday. The bakery's involvement helps scale a program that has already distributed millions of books across Ohio.
Busken Bakery has sold more than 12,000 hot pink cookies since August 28, 2026. The company intends to donate more than $19,000 in proceeds to support the Imagination Library program.
The players
Dolly Parton
The country music icon and philanthropist established the Imagination Library to improve child literacy rates worldwide.
Mike DeWine
The Governor of Ohio officially proclaimed September 25 as Dolly Parton Day in the state.
Busken Bakery
This Cincinnati-based bakery chain is coordinating the fundraising effort through cookie sales.
Imagination Library
This non-profit organization mails free books to children from birth until they reach age five.
The details
Customers can purchase the specialty cookies at any Busken Bakery location or order them online for shipping. Proceeds go directly to the Imagination Library, a literacy organization founded in 1995 that provides books to children at no cost to families.
Timeline
1995: Dolly Parton launched the Imagination Library program.
August 2019: The Imagination Library of Ohio began operations.
August 28, 2026: Busken Bakery started selling the themed cookies.
September 25, 2026: Ohio marks the official Dolly Parton Day.
Market Landscape
The fundraising effort aligns with the operational scale of the Imagination Library of Ohio, which has mailed over 20 million books since August 2019. Local business participation like this continues to expand the reach of established literacy programs within competitive regional markets.
Local shoppers can support the literacy program by purchasing the hot pink cookies at any bakery location or online while supplies last. Families interested in receiving monthly books can sign up for the program through the organization's official website.
The takeaway
Supporting local literacy programs can be as simple as participating in community-based fundraising events. Parents are encouraged to register their children early to ensure they receive books throughout their developmental years.
Further reading
Learn more about local efforts to support literacy initiatives in the Philanthropy section.
More information
Register for the program or learn more about the initiative via the Imagination Library book registration portal.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Cincinnati.
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