On September 25, people around the world are invited to honor Dolly Parton’s extraordinary legacy by helping children dream big and develop a lifelong love of reading.
The Dollywood Foundation has announced the first annual Give Like Dolly Day, a global day dedicated to supporting local Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library programs. The date—9/25—is a playful tribute to Dolly’s iconic song and movie 9 to 5, but the purpose of the day reflects her lifelong generosity and belief in the potential of every child.
In Arkansas, more than 86,000 children receive a free, age-appropriate book in the mail each month. Arkansas Imagination Library and our Local Program Partners work together to make the program available to children from birth to age five in all 75 counties. These partners raise funds, build community support and help cover the cost of the books and mailing.
Give Like Dolly Day is an opportunity to celebrate that work and help it continue.
Give, Share or Celebrate!
There is no single way to participate. Choose the one that is right for you:
Give. Make a gift of $9.25, $25 or any meaningful amount to help Arkansas children continue receiving books each month. Donations can be directed to the county of your choice.
Share. Tell others about the Imagination Library, share a family reading story or post a photo of a child enjoying one of their monthly books. Use #GiveLikeDolly and #ArkansasImaginationLibrary to help more people discover the program.
Celebrate. Attend a community event, read aloud with a child, or invite your workplace, civic organization or business to support early literacy.
Arkansas families with children younger than five can also enroll online.
Celebrate Across Arkansas!
Communities throughout Arkansas are planning their own tributes, fundraisers and celebrations. We will continue adding events as information becomes available.
Benton County
Dolly Days on Ice at the Jones Center, September 26 & 27
Carroll County
Dolly Day at the Auditorium
Clark County
Dolly Day Downtown
Conway County
Rialto Community Arts Center in Morrilton showing the movie 9 to 5, 6:00pm
Craighead County
Dolly Day at the Northeast Arkansas District Fair
Crawford County
Girls Night Out: Tribute to Dolly, Downtown Van Buren, 4:00pm – 9:00pm
Desha County
Dolly Day at Dumas Public Library, 3:30pm – 4:30pm
Faulkner County
Rembering Dolly at The Max, 5:30pm
Dolly Parton Night at Malys Family Entertainment Center
Garland County
Garland County Library 9 to 5 Event, 2:30pm – 5:30pm
Jackson County
Dolly Parton Singo Bingo at the Newport Country Club, 6:30pm
Jefferson County
Pine Bluff/Jefferson County Library event, 9:00am – 2:00pm
Lonoke County
3rd Annual Taste & Talent: A Fusion of Food and Art – September 24th!
9 to 5 Challenge Raffle for Dolly Painting
Dolly Day at Cabot Community Center
Marion County
Dolly Days at Ozark Campfire Coffee, 9:00am – 11:00am
Miller County
Dolly Parton Silent Auction, now – October 21
Polk County
Polk County Library 9 to 5 Event
Pope County
Dolly Day at Dreami Tea
Pope and Yell County Imagination Library 9 to 5 Challenge
Pulaski County
Dolly Bingo at Bloom Salon
Dolly Day at River Bottom Winery
Southern Tail Brewing Book Drive and Matching Donations
Painting with a Twist
Steel Magnolias screening at CALS Ron Robinson Theater – September 22
Sebastian County
Give Like Dolly Day with United Way of Fort Smith
Union County
Dolly Party at Barton Library
Yell County
Pope and Yell County Imagination Library 9 to 5 Challenge
One Day. One Simple Idea.
Give Like Dolly Day may last only one day, but the work of putting books into the hands and homes of children continues throughout the year. On September 25, your support can help carry that mission forward—one book, one child and one community at a time.