COLUMBUS – Country music superstar Dolly Parton visited Columbus Tuesday to celebrate the success of her Imagination Library of Ohio.
UPDATE 8/10/22 6:54 a.m.: This story has been updated throughout
Parton joined First Lady Fran DeWine at the inaugural First Lady’s Luncheon, held in supported of the early literacy program, which has been a passion of Fran DeWine.
Inspired by her father, who was illiterate, Parton says she initially created her Imagination Library for children living in Sevier County, Tenn., and it has since expanded, coming to Ohio in 2019 under Fran DeWine’s guidance and with support from the General Assembly.
The Imagination Library sends a free age-appropriate book to any child up to the age of five.
Nearly 344,000 kids, or 48% of the eligible children in Ohio, are currently enrolled in the program, according to the office of Gov. Mike DeWine.