August 15th, 2023. A day that will forever be remembered throughout Washington, as Dolly Parton graced the stage of the beautiful Pantages Theater in Tacoma, WA, for Imagination Library of Washington's statewide celebration. This historic occasion was a milestone for the Imagination Library of Washington and families across the state, as every child in Washington under the age of five could now register to receive free books from Dolly Parton's Imagination Library.

More than 800 guests filled the theatre, from state legislators who made the statewide program possible, to dozens of local program partners who work diligently every day to enroll young children, and funders who have supported the expansion of Dolly Parton's Imagination Library in Washington since inception. Two Washington State leaders, Lt. Governor Denny Heck and Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal, had the opportunity to welcome Dolly to the state of Washington, where a fireside chat was held sharing Dolly's inspiration behind creating her Imagination Library program and her hopes and dreams for the future of the program. 

“August 15, 2023 is a year behind us in the rearview mirror already! What a day it was…celebrating collaboration and the achievement of statewide Imagination Library program availability for Washington children. Our team fondly remembers how Dolly Parton graced us with her presence, sharing her passion for her Imagination Library with so many who helped this vision come to life. In this last year, we have continued to climb in enrollments, create meaningful partnerships, and have continued spreading the word of this impactful program in powerful and creative ways that inspires a love of reading. As we roll on, we encourage Washingtonians to continue to embrace this program, encouraging young ones to enroll, and to donate to your local program partner so this opportunity will continue to be available for generations to come.” stated Imagination Library of Washington Executive Director, Brooke Fisher-Clark.

For years, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library has brought joy and learning to hundreds of thousands of children in Washington, now reaching over 118,000 kids from birth to five with monthly book deliveries. This remarkable program is made possible through legislative funding and the efforts of Washington's 46 local program partners, who work tirelessly to connect with families and enroll their little ones in this transformative early literacy program.

Dolly's visit to Washington was more than just a celebration—it was a call to action. A reminder that literacy is the foundation of education, and that by working together, we can create a brighter future for our children. As Dolly herself put it, “If you can read, you can dream. And if you can dream, you can do anything.”

To view last year's statewide celebration, CLICK HERE. 

You can help us give the gift of literacy to more Washington children with a donation to Imagination Library of Washington! Start your impact with a donation today.