PIGEON FORGE, Tenn. (Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2017) — While Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library now is found within various communities around the globe, it humbly began in Parton’s home of Sevier County, Tennessee more than 20 years ago. Now, the state of Tennessee honors the pioneering literacy initiative with a special license plate designed to help support the program’s goal of providing books to children.
“My daddy thought the Imagination Library was the most important thing I’d ever accomplished, so I know if he was still here with us, he would’ve been the first person to buy one for his truck,” Parton said with a laugh.
The colorful plate features the Imagination Library logo and Parton’s likeness with a silhouette of the Great Smoky Mountains in the background. The Dollywood Foundation plans to contribute its portion of the plate proceeds directly to county Imagination Library programs in Tennessee. The plate, produced by the Tennessee Department of Revenue, can be used on cars and trucks registered within Tennessee.
“We could not provide 1 million books to children each month without the support of local communities around the world,” said David Dotson, Dollywood Foundation President. “Through the funding and awareness the Tennessee Imagination Library license plate will generate, we’re able to inspire even more children here in our home state to love to read.
“All funds generated in each county will remain in that county to support the enrollment of additional children.”
For a specialty plate to be produced, at least 1,000 Tennessee residents must place a preorder. The Dolly Parton/Imagination Library plate quickly reached its preorder requirement, allowing it to go in to production. For the more than 1,000 residents who pre-ordered, those plates are beginning to arrive at local county clerk’s offices. Plates may be personalized for an additional fee through the Department of Revenue.
More information about the plate is available by visiting the Tennessee Department of Revenue website at https://www.tn.gov/revenue/article/for-children. Additional information about the purchasing process and county clerk office locations can be found in the following links: https://www.tn.gov/revenue/topic/license-plates and http://www.tn.gov/revenue/article/county-clerks-locations
The license plate may be gifted to family and friends. For more information: http://www.tngiftcenter.com/giftatag/
The Imagination Library partners with local sponsors to provide an age appropriate book each month to children from birth to age five in participating communities. In 2016, the Imagination Library and its local partners gifted nearly 11.5 million books. In December, the program reached the impressive milestone of gifting 1 million books to children around the world every month.
To date, the Imagination Library, which is administered through the Dollywood Foundation, has provided more than 85 million books in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and Australia! The free book-gifting program started in Parton’s home county in 1995, but was quickly adopted statewide as part of the Governor’s Books from Birth Foundation.