“Today we mourn an extraordinary woman who changed the world in more ways than most people will ever know. Dolly Parton brought joy to millions through her music, but she also believed deeply that every child, regardless of where they were born or how much money their family had, deserved the opportunity to grow up surrounded by books.

 

“That belief became Dolly Parton's Imagination Library. What began in her home county in Tennessee grew into an international movement reaching millions of children and families.

“Here in Colorado, we have had the privilege of carrying Dolly's vision forward through Imagination Library of Colorado and our local partners across the state. We see every day what happens when a child receives a book addressed personally to them in the mail — and begins to believe that books, reading and learning belong to them.

 

“Dolly's passing is an enormous loss, but the mission she created is very much alive. The organization, partnerships and people she inspired will continue this work. Colorado children will continue receiving books, and we intend to make sure that generations of children who never had the opportunity to know Dolly personally will nevertheless know what she believed in.

 

“There may be no better way to honor Dolly Parton than to keep putting books into the hands of children. That work continues.”