Dolly Parton has announced the promotion of David Dotson to president of the Dollywood Foundation and the Imagination Library program.
The Imagination Library program has shown unbridled growth under Dotson’s guidance as Executive Director. Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library provides a new, age-appropriate hardcover book each month from birth until the time a child enters kindergarten at age five to children in the communities which it serves. The program is totally free of charge due to the foundation’s unique partnership with hundreds of local sponsors such as United Way, Rotary, Kiwanis, government and school systems. There is no socioeconomic standard for participation.
“David has been with us for eight years and has grown the Imagination Library from Sevier County to now be in 740 communities, as well as in Canada and the UK, ” said Parton. “He always exceeds my expectations in creating new opportunities for kids and managing the growth of the Imagination Library. This coming year, we will give away more than five million books.”
The Imagination Library program recently expanded into several communities in the United Kingdom and continues to explore partnerships for new locations around the globe.
The Imagination Library was launched in 1996 for preschool-age children in Parton’s native Sevier County, Tenn. to encourage parents to read to their children throughout the first five years of life.
