News

September 22, 2025:

United Way of the Southern Tier is proud to join The Dollywood Foundation, home of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, for the first “Give Like Dolly Day” on Friday, September 25.

This global day is dedicated to supporting local Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library programs and honoring Dolly’s extraordinary legacy of inspiring children to dream big and develop a lifelong love of reading. As Dolly often said, “If you can read, you can do anything, dream anything, and be anything.”

More than 13,000 local children have received books through Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library since 2018. This free program, supported by donations to United Way of the Southern Tier and administered by the Dollywood Foundation, provides a book each month by mail to children until they turn age 5.

“Every book delivered represents an opportunity for a child to discover something new, spend meaningful time reading with caregivers, and begin building a lifelong love of learning,” said Maleaha Smith, CEO of United Way of the Southern Tier. “Give Like Dolly Day is a chance for our community to celebrate Dolly’s remarkable legacy while helping local children receive the books that inspire them to dream big.”

“For Dolly, giving was always personal and from her heart,” said Jeff Conyers, president of The Dollywood Foundation. “She believed deeply in helping people, especially children, and she always felt if you are in a position to help, you should help. Give Like Dolly Day is an opportunity for people everywhere to not only support their local Imagination Library partners but also other local nonprofits helping children.”

The Imagination Library is made possible through the continued support of Dolly’s Estate and The Dollywood Foundation, which invest in the partnerships, resources and systems that empower thousands of local program partners, including United Way of the Southern Tier, Pro Action of Steuben and Yates, Inc., and Cornell Cooperative Extension of Schuyler County. The local partners build awareness and provide the funding needed to cover the wholesale cost of the books and mailing for children in their communities.

Together, this unique partnership helps place books into the homes — and hearts — of millions of children around the world.

Donations to support your local Imagination Library can be made at ImaginationLibrary.com.

Give Like Dolly Day will be celebrated annually on September 25.

For more information, please contact United Way Director of Donor Experience Lois Wilson by email or at 607-377-5834.