Children under the age of five in Montezuma and Dolores counties have an opportunity to win a video chat with Dolly Parton, among other prizes, through her Imagination Library program, according to a news release Thursday.
During September, seven Dolly Parton bookmarks will be randomly placed into books being sent to enrolled families, in honor of International Literacy month. Children who find a bookmark will receive a video chat with Parton, a personalized and signed letter, an autographed photo, and four free tickets to the Dollywood Theme Park. A prize of $2,000 also will be awarded to the library where the child is enrolled.
Parton started her Imagination Library program in 1995. Children under the age of five can sign up through their local libraries to receive age-appropriate books each month, free of charge. The program spans five countries in total. The program has gifted 200 million books globally since its inception.
In Montezuma and Dolores counties, 634 children are enrolled, and more than 100 children have aged out of the program, the release stated.
Parton’s Imagination Library program originated in her home county, Sevier County, Tennessee, in honor of her father, who could not read or write. Now, more than 2.4 million books are gifted each month across five countries, according to the news release.
“I know there are children in communities around the world with big dreams, and the seeds of these dreams are often found in books,” Parton said in the news release. “We have so much more to do! Together, we can inspire even more children to dream more, learn more, care more, and be more.”
Age-eligible children must be enrolled in this free program by July 31 to have a chance to find a bookmark. Children in Montezuma County can be enrolled by contacting their local library or the Montezuma County Health Department.
