US States Cut Funding for Dolly Parton's Imagination Library

The Imagination Library, a global literacy program founded by Dolly Parton in 1995, is facing significant funding shortages across several U.S. states following Parton's death on Tuesday at age 80. While the program has distributed over 300 million books to 3 million children, recent budget cuts have jeopardized its operations in multiple regions.

In Missouri, state funding for the upcoming fiscal year dropped from $6 million to $2 million, triggering an enrollment freeze on July 1. Indiana entirely removed state funding from its budget last year, prompting Governor Mike Braun and First Lady Maureen Braun to seek private philanthropic support. The program has shut down completely in Maine, while Clark County, Nevada, saw enrollment plummet from nearly 19,000 to just over 2,000 children after a state grant lapsed.

In Washington, Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal is urging Governor Bob Ferguson and the state legislature to restore funding for the 100,000 children enrolled in the state. Reykdal previously used discretionary funds in June 2025 to maintain operations after the program was excluded from the most recent state budget.

While Tennessee and Oregon have moved to protect their funding and memorial donations have surged since Parton's passing, the Dollywood Foundation has vowed to carry the work forward. Jeff Conyers, Vice Chair and President of the foundation, stated that the program should unite people regardless of politics because every child deserves the chance to succeed.