Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine and Lt. Gov. Jim Tressel signed a proclamation today declaring “Dolly Parton Day” on Sept. 25, 2026 to celebrate her life, legacy and generosity.
Parton rose from humble beginnings to become one of the most beloved entertainers in the world and dedicated herself to literacy and children through her philanthropic work with Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.
Parton established the Imagination Library in 1995 in her home county in East Tennessee to honor her father who could not read by fostering a love of reading among her county’s preschool children and their families.
Parton’s Imagination Library currently mails more than 3 million books every month to children aged 0-5 around the world, including more than 432,000 books to children in Ohio.
More than 1 million Ohio children from all 88 counties have participated in Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library of Ohio, receiving a free, high-quality, age-appropriate book in the mail each month since the statewide program was established in Ohio in 2019.
Parents can enroll their children from birth to age five in Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library of Ohio at ohioimaginationlibrary.org.
A printable/shareable copy of the proclamation appears below.
Metro Monthly is a local news and events magazine based in Youngstown, Ohio. We circulate throughout the Youngstown/Warren Mahoning Valley region (and beyond) with print, online and flipbook editions. Be sure to visit our website for news, features, restaurants, local history and essential Valley events. We offer print and website advertising. Office: 330-717-8785.
© 2026 Metro Monthly. All rights reserved.
