Dolly Parton Expands Her Imagination Library Program to Include Over 2.4 Million Children in California

Dolly Parton is at it again, expanding her efforts to help millions of children uncover a love of reading.

The California Governor's office announced the expansion of Parton's Imagination Library program this week. The program mails a free book to children under 5 years old in all 50 states. It was inspired by Parton's own love of reading, as well as the regret she said her father experienced, having not learned to read or write.

The program expansion comes with Spanish options, which California will be the first state to offer. With this new expansion, the program will be able to send books to children across the whole state by 2028. As of this past March, the program has already sent 200 million books to kids, which are selected by a committee of early childhood experts.

Parton is an accomplished author herself — her latest children's book, Billy The Kid Makes It Big, was released in April. This past February she teamed up with James Patterson to release her first novel, Run, Rose, Run.

Well known for her charitable endeavors, like her Dollywood Foundation, which decreased high school dropout rates in her home town, or The Dollywood Parks and Resorts' initiative to cover all educational expenses for employees who further their education, Parton has really done too many good deeds to give a full comprehensive picture — but Billboard gives it a try.

One of the most endearing things about Parton's philanthropy is that she often gives under the radar. Last October, some saavy internet sleuths figured out that she'd been paying for the band uniforms at several Tennessee high schools. "I don't do it for attention," she said to The Associated Press of her giving. "I just give from the heart."

Jeff Bezos recognized Parton's charitable giving when he gave her his annual Courage and Civility Award in November. The award includes $100 million for Parton to give to any cause she chooses. "I will do my best to do good things with this money," she tweeted.