Nice News’ August 2024 Cause of the Month

With back-to-school season heading into full swing — depending on where you are in the country — we’ve got education on the mind. So Nice News’ August Cause of the Month is Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, a literacy initiative that has distributed nearly 245 million books (and counting) to children age 5 and under in the U.S., Canada, U.K., Australia, and Ireland.

Founded by the Queen of Country in 1995, the Imagination Library was inspired by Parton’s father, who couldn’t read. The organization launched in her home county in east Tennessee and has since spread far and wide, with over 3.1 million children registered as of June.

“When I was growing up in the hills of east Tennessee, I knew my dreams would come true,” Parton said in a message to fans. “I know there are children in your community with their own dreams. They dream of becoming a doctor or an inventor or a minister. Who knows, maybe there is a little girl whose dream is to be a writer and singer. The seeds of these dreams are often found in books and the seeds you help plant in your community can grow across the world.”

Here’s how the book gifting program works: Each month, the Imagination Library collaborates with local affiliates and partners to mail a high-quality, age-appropriate book to all registered children, at no cost to the child’s family and regardless of income. You can register a child from the day they’re born, and they’ll continue receiving books up until age 5.

One hundred percent of the proceeds from this fundraiser will go directly to Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. If you have or know a child who could benefit from the program, click here to see if it’s available in your area.

More about Nice News: Nice News is an email series and website that curates positive news. We send uplifting stories to subscribers’ inboxes each morning featuring significant innovations, advancements in health and wellness, everyday heroes, and more.