In the wake of her unexpected passing, our community has given nearly $17,000 to Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library here in Orlando and College Park. Because of that, over 100 more children are already receiving a free book in the mail every month.
That’s the short version of the story. The long version is even more inspiring.
The Gifts Kept on Giving
Almost immediately after the world learned the sad news, support for our program started rolling in.
And it hasn’t really stopped.
The gifts have ranged from $1 to $5,000. Two anonymous donors stepped up with $7,500 in matching funds, which doubled the impact of donations. And a couple of checks just appeared in the mail. No note, no phone call, no explanation. Just generous neighbors who heard the news, pictured a kid with a book, and decided to help make that image a reality.
Local Businesses Jumped In
Across the Orlando area, businesses and other organizations have also jumped in to lend their support.
The Enzian Theater in Maitland hosted a special screening of Steel Magnolias that raised more than $1,100. Over in Mills50, Bites & Bubbles put on a Dolly themed dinner that brought in more than $2,200. A law firm downtown held a Dolly themed social. Bars around town added a Dolly cocktail to the menu and sent the proceeds to the Imagination Library.
The Word Got Around
The program picked up some well deserved attention, too. The Orlando Sentinel wrote about the Imagination Library and the free books it gets into the hands of Orlando kids, and our Past President Bryan Burns was interviewed by multiple media outlets in town, including this one on WESH 2.
Chef Eddie Nickell and Nicholas Olivieri from Bites & Bubbles present the proceeds from their “9 to 5 Dinner” benefiting Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library in Orlando.
Where It's Already Going
Over 100 new children have been enrolled since the giving started.
As part of that effort, we hosted an in person enrollment event at West Lakes Early Learning Center, which was a great opportunity to sign families up face to face and spend some real time with the neighbors this program is for.
That event was made possible thanks to the multi-year support of the program by Florida Citrus Sports.
There's a Long Way to Go
More than 900 children in our community get a book in the mail every single month through this program. That sounds like a lot until you hear it’s less than 10 percent of the kids under five who are eligible.
There are thousands of children right here in Orlando who could have a book show up with their name on it, and don’t. Not yet.
That’s our mission, and we’ll get there with your help.
The Rotary Club of College Park’s “Legacy Team” for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, with Orlando City Commissioner Shan Rose, at the West Lakes Early Learning Center.
Her Legacy Carries On
Dolly built something that was never really about Dolly. It’s about a kid at the mailbox, holding an envelope with their own name on it.
Her legacy lives in those envelopes, and there’s a committed team at the Rotary Club of College Park making sure they keep arriving. That’s the job, and candidly, it’s the joy.
From All of Us, Thank You
So, thank you. To everyone who gave, every business that opened its doors, every neighbor who shared the story, and every family who enrolled.
It would have been easy to let this be a sad few weeks, and there’s no doubt that those of us who love this program are feeling the loss.
Instead, you turned it into thousands of books in the hands of children. That feels like exactly the way Dolly would have wanted it.
Want to help us reach the next 900?
• Give to the program
• Enroll a child under five
• Join us for breakfast on Thursdays. This is the kind of thing we do.
