PITTSBURGH \u2014 Dolly Parton\u2019s legacy leaves an impact on people all across the world, including young readers in Pittsburgh.<\/p>\n
While the country music star, who died at the age of 80 on Tuesday,<\/a> was known for her iconic performances and unforgettable songs, she was also a hard-working philanthropist.<\/p>\n Those efforts to give back included \u201cDolly Parton\u2019s Imagination Library,\u201d<\/a> an international organization that provides children with books every month from birth to the age of five in an attempt to instill a love for reading.<\/p>\n Parton started the initiative in 1995. With her father\u2019s inability to read in mind, the first books were given to children living in her home community of Sevier County, Tennessee. The program quickly expanded, eventually reaching children in Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia and the Republic of Ireland, the initiative\u2019s website shows. <\/a><\/p>\n Parton\u2019s library expanded to Pittsburgh in 2019.<\/a><\/p>\n In June, city officials, Reading Ready Pittsburgh,<\/a> the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh<\/a> and the Benter Foundation<\/a> began working together to launch the \u201cImagine Free Books for All Children\u201d campaign.<\/a> According to city officials, of the children eligible for the program, 30% were enrolled. The campaign goal is to raise that number to 65%. As of Tuesday,<\/a> 4,900 are enrolled in the program.<\/p>\n PREVIOUS COVERAGE >>> Dolly Parton\u2019s Imagination Library program to expand in Pittsburgh, boosting kids\u2019 access to books<\/a><\/p>\n The City of Pittsburgh says the Dolly Parton Imagination Library has delivered a total of 306,532 free books to families since 2019. <\/p>\n \u201cDolly Parton has left an incredible legacy across the world for her music, her philanthropy and the Dolly Parton Imagination Library,\u201d a City of Pittsburgh spokesperson said. \u201cWe honor her lasting impact throughout the community.\u201d<\/p>\n According to Reading Ready Pittsburgh, the Imagine Free Books For All Children campaign is on track to reach its goal of getting 9,100 children enrolled in the program. If you would like to register for the program, click here.<\/a><\/p>\n Download the FREE WPXI News app<\/a> for breaking news alerts.<\/p>\n Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook<\/a> and Twitter<\/a>. | Watch WPXI NOW<\/a><\/p>\n TOP STORIES FROM CHANNEL 11 NEWS <\/p>\n \u00a92026 Cox Media Group<\/p>\n