Dolly Parton's Imagination Library News

DOLLY PARTON PAYS TRIBUTE TO PORTER WAGONER AND DON WARDEN

iPhone Web Designers — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 14:11:00 +0000

Sevier County superstar Dolly Parton took some personal time off from her busy press schedule Saturday to celebrate the life and music of former television partner and mentor, Porter Wagoner. In her own Celebrity Theater, the singer spent an emotional and poignant afternoon singing the songs and sharing the stories of the time she and Porter spent together and the impact the legend had on all who surrounded him. Parton also took the opportunity to surprise manager, and original Wagon Master, Don Warden with an induction into the Missouri based Steel Guitar Hall of Fame. The Dollywood Theater was transformed with familiar sets from the long-running country music show and Dolly’s band, The Backwoods Boys, dressed in the signature costumes from the era. Dolly, herself, wore a Porter-inspired outfit to set the mood for the afternoon.

“This won’t be a sad time,” she assured the crowd. “This will be a happy time!” The private event was attended by Wagoner’s children and grand children and many of the Grand Ole Opry stars who had performed with him during his long and successful career. “The Porter Wagoner Show” debuted on syndicated television in 1960 and the flashy country star brought new talent Dolly Parton aboard in 1967. Parton credits his support and the popularity of their duets together, as the foundation of her own success.
During the emotional memorial, Wagon Master steel guitar player Don Warden was surprised by Parton with a tribute of his own. Dressed in the original costume he wore on the famed show, Warden was gifted with a sculpture from Parton who described him as her “Angel on Earth” and told of his induction into the Steel Guitar Hall of Fame. When Dolly left the Porter Wagoner Show, Warden went with her as manager and has remained with her as an adviser through the years. This very special tribute marked the first time the two had performed together in 34 years.

Eyes glistening with tears, Parton closed the memorial with the original version of her 1974 musical farewell to their partnership, “I Will Always Love You”. “Not a dry eye in the house,” says Sevierville media artist Jacob Timmons, who designed and manages Parton’s web empire. “The whole first row of the theater was Porter’s family, the second row was legends from the Grand Ole Opry. It was a powerful and moving expression of love”. Porter Wagoner died on October 28, 2007, in Nashville Tennessee. His career spanned seven decades.
This blog brought to you by S.D. Professionals, LLC :: Tennessee's Entertainment Bloggers!
All content of this blog belongs exclusively to S.D. Professionals, LLC and may NOT be used, copied or rewritten in any form with out written consent.

Dolly Parton delights fansaround the world in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee Parade

iPhone Web Designers — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 13:17:00 +0000

As thunder storms and funnel clouds ripped through East Tennessee yesterday, Pigeon Forge had their own special angel keeping skies sunny and dry! This area's favorite daughter, Dolly Parton, welcomed Spring with her annual parade down the city's main street, and even the weather seemed to be under her spell.From the Dollywood Foundation offices to Wears Valley Road, eager fans lined the streets to catch a glimpse of the Backwoods Barbie and, as usual, she didn't disappoint! Signature smile (and wig!) glowing, looking full of life and bursting with happiness, Dolly waved and chatted with the crowd from atop her new custom built float.Sharing time with her home town fans before jetting off to a year-long World Tour, Dolly has had a busy Spring already; appearing as a mentor on Fox Television's popular hit, American Idol and promoting her latest album. Not likely a few rain drops would dampen her enthusiasm or that of the crowds cheering her on.The yearly tradition celebrates the official Grand Opening weekend of the star's Dollywood Theme Park and has become an eagerly awaited kick-off for summer in the Smokey Mountains.

This blog brought to you by S.D. Professionals, LLC :: Tennessee's premiere bloggers!

S.D. Professionals, LLC Makes TV Debut On American Idol

iPhone Web Designers — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 15:50:00 +0000

S. D. Professionals, LLC owner Jacob Timmons isn’t appearing as a contestant on American Idol this week but, with the help of super star Dolly Parton, his work will be seen on the popular talent showcase just the same. Timmons, owner of the Sevierville based media design company, was contacted by representatives from American Idol to create the visual animation for Parton’s appearance on episodes airing this week. “It isn’t every day you see American Idol on caller ID!” Timmons laughed.On Tuesday night, Sevier county’s hometown celebrity is sharing her wisdom and years of performance experience with the Idol finalists celebrating her music. Parton will be performing her new hit “Jesus and Gravity” live during the elimination phase of the show Wednesday evening. No coincidence that the Fox network staff looked to Timmons for artistic visual interpretation when planning Dolly’s Idol debut. S. D. Professionals, LLC designed and maintains Parton’s new web site, http://www.dollyparton.com/ as well as her Imagination Library web site and book order system, DollysImaginationLibrary.com. The artist also recently produced the video content for Parton’s new 2008 Backwoods Barbie World Tour which kicks off this month. Timmons’ work opens the famous show tonight and he looks forward to seeing “S. D. Professionals, LLC” roll by on the credits.“We are thrilled to be part of the evening”, says Timmons, “and feel Dolly will have a little bit of Sevierville there with her”! Local residents can enjoy the same affordable services as the successful Fox network by contacting S. D. Professionals, LLC at http://www.sdwebpros.com/ or by calling 865-774-9023.

Dolly Parton will mentor American Idol Contestants Season 7

iPhone Web Designers — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 21:08:00 +0000

Dolly Parton announces this week that she will in fact be a star mentor for this year's Season 7 contestants.
Check out American Idol for more information and keep checking out Dolly Parton's website for new stuff!
Blog brought to you by S.D. Professionals, LLC:: Tennessee Web

Injured Dolly Parton Postpones13-Show Tour

iPhone Web Designers — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 03:32:00 +0000

Associated Press Reports:

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A back problem has forced Dolly Parton to postpone a concert tour she planned in support of her new CD. Parton was scheduled to kick off a 13-show tour Feb. 28 in Minneapolis, two days after the release of "Backwoods Barbie," publicist Marcee Rondan said Monday.
Doctors advised Parton to take up to eight weeks off to recover from the unspecified problem.
Rondan said she had no information on the nature of Parton's back condition.
"I know I have been breaking my neck and bending over backwards trying to get my new `Backwoods Barbie' CD and world tour together, but I didn't mean to hurt myself doing it," Parton, 62, said in a statement.
She said doctors told her she will be "good as new in a few weeks, and I can't wait to get back out there."
The tour will be rescheduled for late April through May. Tickets will be honored for the new dates.
On the Net:
Dolly Parton: http://www.dollyparton.com/

Blog brought to you by S.D. Professionals, LLC :: Tennessee Web Design

United Way of Cass-Clay raised more than $4.4 million dollars

iPhone Web Designers — Sat, 19 Jan 2008 16:42:00 +0000

United Way of Cass-Clay raised more than $4.4 million dollars in 2007, surpassing the organization’s goal by $50,000, organizers announced Friday.
Doug Hamilton, the 2007 campaign chair, announced the 2007 campaign’s 7 percent increase compared to funds raised in 2006 during a news conference.
Hamilton also highlighted some of the organization’s key moments in 2007, including:
- More than 1,800 volunteers from 92 businesses helped 450 seniors during the organization’s 16th annual “Day of Caring,” making the 2007 event the organization’s biggest to date, Hamilton said.
- Businesses, organizations and individuals donated more than $72,500 worth of supplies during the School Supply Drive, which provided 3,200 children with backpacks and school supplies at the start of school.
- United Way distributed an average of 7,722 books a month to children in Cass and Clay counties through Imagination Library, which provides free books to children from birth until their fifth birthday.
More than 1,600 individual donors and 516 organizations helped raise funds during the 2007 campaign, which will be allocated to 57 programs, Hamilton said.
He added that the continued success of the fundraising campaign demonstrates how well local residents take care of others.
“United Way’s success illustrates that we live in a very generous community,” Hamilton said.

more

Blog by S.D. Professionals, LLC :: Web Design

Dolly's Imagination Library program get's praise with GoLaurens.com

iPhone Web Designers — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 14:32:00 +0000

Most of us are from the generation that was taught that you work for everything you have, you don’t ask anyone for anything, you say please and thank you, and you don’t believe everything you hear or read.Well, you can believe this. You can get something for nothing and here’s how. For those of us with children, the United Way and Laurens County School Districts 55 and 56 began offering a program to assist pre-school aged children with reading levels to promote school readiness.This program, called the Imagination Library, is available to any child age under age five in Laurens County. By enrolling, children receive a book a month delivered to their homes from the Imagination Library program. Ideally, a child enrolling in Imagination Library at birth would start school at age five with a library of 60 books of his very own. The books each child receives are hardback, age appropriate books that are pre-approved by a national board of educators. Have you priced hardback children’s books lately? They are expensive! United Way and the two School Districts pick up this tab for any child living in this community at an average price of $35 per year per child. Imagination Library was the brainchild of country music legend, Dolly Parton. Because Parton was from a very impoverished home, she shares that her mother used to read the same book over and over to her. She says she remembers as a child thinking that if she grew up to become wealthy, she would make sure that children of all ages had the books they needed to succeed. Five years ago, in 2002, United Way and the School Districts began offering this program to the children of this community. Like Dolly, we share the same dream for Laurens County’s children. We want to make sure that all children arrive to school prepared to learn and prepared to read.Since we began the program, over 3,500 children have benefited from Imagination Library and over 65,000 books have been delivered to our children! We believe it’s an investment in our children and an investment in this community’s future.If you have children and you have not enrolled them in our Imagination Library program, what are you waiting for? Find out more by checking this program out on our website at www.uwlc-online.orgWe’d like nothing better than for every child in our community to have that library in their homes. And, the best news is that this program is FREE. Now that’s something for nothing!
Posted by GoLaurens.com Guest Blogger at 8:11 PM

Blog by S.D. Professionals, LLC :: East Tennessee Web Design

Cape Breton flavour added to documentary about Parton’s literacy program

iPhone Web Designers — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 18:59:00 +0000

TROY — A documentary detailing a country music legend’s campaign for children’s literacy will feature some Cape Breton flavour.The Book Lady, chronicling Dolly Parton’s Dollywood Foundation and her Imagination Library program in both the United States and Canada, shot some footage in Cape Breton this week, conducting interviews with renowned fiddler Natalie MacMaster and a Waycobah-area family which has been involved in the program.The one-hour documentary is being produced by Sydney native Brad Horvath for Halifax-based Emotion Pictures, in association with Horvath’s own company, Amygdala Pictures.“The documentary is two-fold,” said Horvath, who serves as producer on the project. “(It) will show another side of Dolly and shed light on the importance of reading to preschool children. We hope it will also inspire people to get involved in this initiative.”Imagination Library is a program that mails free, age-appropriate books each month to preschool children.The Grammy-winning and Oscar-nominated singer, songwriter and actress has given millions of books to American children since initially setting up Imagination Library in 1996 to aid children in her home state of Tennessee. In 2007, she partnered with Canadian charitable organization, Invest in Kids, and brought the campaign to several Canadian communities, including two in Nova Scotia — Dartmouth and Waycobah.Several months ago, Horvath and Halifax-based director Natasha Ryan travelled with a small crew to meet Parton in Tennessee and have since interviewed a number of prominent Canadians and Americans for the documentary including Academy Award-winning actress Olympia Dukakis, country music singer Keith Urban, actress and singer Miley Cyrus, star of the Disney Channel hit series Hannah Montana, figure skating champion Kurt Browning and children’s author Robert Munsch.Horvath said he was thrilled to include a piece of home in the documentary and MacMaster — an admirer of Parton’s and a mother of two young children who is committed to the literacy cause — was a natural fit for the documentary.“Natalie was lovely. We had a great time with her,” he said, noting after doing an interview with the fiddler they taped MacMaster’s young nephew reading a book to her.After completing filming with MacMaster in her home community of Troy, the documentarians moved on to the Waycobah First Nation where they interviewed a mother who has been receiving books for her children through the program as well as local health centre staff who help administer the program in the community.Halifax-based filmmaker Thom Fitzgerald serves as executive producer on The Book Lady, which has been pre-sold to CBC-TV for national broadcast. Horvath noted other broadcasters have also expressed interest in the documentary.
Full Story
Blog by SD Professionals, LLC :: Tennessee Web Bloggers

Dolly Parton brings focus of world's media to Rotherham

iPhone Web Designers — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 13:55:00 +0000

Rotherham was recently the focus of the world’s media when it hosted the launch of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library presented by Dolly Parton in person. The venue was the Magna Science and Education Centre and dignitaries, officials and children from across the region were invited to share in the event. It was a fantastic occasion and rather surreal with the Leader of the Council and Dolly Parton sharing a stage and where Dolly sang a couple of her favourite songs to a very impressed audience.But the real surprise was that the scheme that Dolly Parton had launched and funded in her home county of Servier in Tennessee over 10 years ago was now being offered to the young children of Rotherham.Dolly Parton began the Imagination Library in her home county of Servier in Tennessee over 10 years ago to try to address the poor literacy skills of the children and to help children develop the same love of books that had inspired Dolly when she was young.Why Rotherham? Rotherham is very similar to a lot of towns where traditional industries have disappeared and it is now evident that the population does not have the literacy skills necessary to obtain the jobs available. On current analysis about 40% of the adult population in Rotherham have some difficulty with literacy skills. This low literacy level of the adults impacts on the help that a parent can give their child either by reading with them, using the local library, or aspiring for and with the child.Rotherham is launching the Imagination Library to help create a bigger impact on children’s early reading skills and to connect with those families who lack the confidence and skills to use local services such as libraries. Many families have not been introduced to the possibilities that libraries can help them with such as borrowing books, using computers, help with homework or studying for their own personal interest.In Rotherham, like many other towns, the speaking and listening skills of children starting in Foundation stages of early education are low and much earlier interventions are required to improve this. Imagination Library complements other schemes such as Book Start and Book Time ,reaching out to children from birth. and will give an additional platform from which to reach out to the families who are not accessing other early education experiences and who are not aware of how important their role is in encouraging speaking, listening and reading with very small children well before they start school.How does the scheme work? All children resident in Rotherham aged between 0 – 5 years old can register for the Imagination Library. A leaflet with a registration form is available from a variety of settings including the hospital, registrar’s office, children’s centres, schools, libraries and doctors surgeries. The books are addressed to the child and are delivered to their home once a month about 8 – 10 weeks after registering for the scheme. Traditional stories and good quality story books, appropriate to their age, are chosen by a panel of literacy experts and reviewed annually. The funding comes from communities, charities, grants and individuals who sponsor a child or children. The cost per child is the equivalent of 50 pence per week for the 5 years if the child is registered at birth making a total of about £125 per child for the 60 books that make up the Imagination Library.How will another reading scheme make any more of an impact than what is already being funded and provided for families and children? It is difficult to answer that question at this time. What is evident is that for the first time the book will go directly to the child at their family home and because the parents have to enrol and register the child they will be engaged in reading with their child from the start of the Imagination library membership.Rotherham is monitoring and evaluating the impact of the scheme by working with some families to evidence any progress they make in reading with their child , increasing their participation with libraries and any changes to their own reading habits.Activities are already being extended that link to the books being delivered so that different age groups of children can be invited with their families to “Baby Book Clubs” that could run in local libraries or other local community settings. This will build on the many and varied activities that already take place. Story Sacks can be created, again linked to particular books that will have been sent to the children, and parents can come along and join other families in using puppets to retell stories and learn about the language of books. Schools will know which children have already registered and can prepare first steps into school around this knowledge encouraging other families to join the scheme.The Skills for Life agenda will be considered with awareness training taking place for staff across all organisations that support and serve families with young children. Additional opportunities for parents who may wish to improve their own reading skills will have a raised profile and can provide a further improvement to the skills of our community.It is not yet clear what, if any, additional work there will be but we do know that a different approach is necessary. By using the information that connects and gives a link to every family who is registered the ideas are endless. In addition to membership of the Imagination Library, the registration forms will offer membership of their local library and this could also help in informing families when they are eligible for their Book Start packs and how to collect them. We do know that when parents are involved in their children’s learning the impact is huge and children make great strides, whilst their parents often develop their own love of learning and reading. Adults become a more positive role model and, together, the family starts to use more local services and are able to make better choices for themselves.Everyone who is concerned about the literacy skills of our population is constantly searching for new ways to engage adults and children and improve their reading and involvement in learning to help provide a vibrant and successful community.Dolly Parton has a unique, well tried and tested opportunity and our children deserve everything we can do to help them become lifelong readers.
Full Story

Blog brought to you by S.D. Professionals, LLLC :: Tennessee Blog Spot

Crossville Chronicle reports Imagination Library seeks local support

iPhone Web Designers — Fri, 28 Dec 2007 14:12:00 +0000

Ever heard of a good problem? The folks with the Imagination Library in Cumberland County have.The program began in the county in May 2005. In June 2005, the program was able to send out 123 books to children eligible for the program. In December 2007, 1,426 books were mailed, reaching 56 percent of children eligible in Cumberland County. Since the program came into the community, the Imagination Library has mailed 32,959 books to children registered with the program.According to Julie Shanks of the Imagination Library, that's a larger portion than was anticipated at this point. She said she thought enrollment would have been around 40 percent.That's why Shanks says the Imagination Library needs the support of anyone willing in the community in order for the program to continue reaching children at the same level. Thus far, the amount of children reached monthly has only increased since the program came into Cumberland County.The Imagination Library is available to children from birth to age 5 at no cost to the family. Each book is hardcover and is selected by a panel to suit the child's stage of development.Reaching children in 47 states, with the recent addition of Canada and Great Britain, the Imagination Library has given away 4.5 million books and has had 420,000 children enrolled in the program.The Imagination Library first came about through Dolly Parton. Parton became motivated by the fact that, despite her father being the smartest man she said she ever knew, he was illiterate. Parton wondered about her father's potential had he been able to read.Once Parton became successful, she grew interested in making a difference in children's lives in her hometown of Sevierville, no matter their family's income. In 1996, she established the Imagination Library for the children of Sevier County. There, the Dollywood Foundation funds the program at 100 percent. Cumberland County, however, counts on 50 percent of its support coming from local donors.

Full Story

Blog brought to you by S.D. Professionals, LLC :: Web Design

Logo Television's Jake...meets Dolly in the UK!

iPhone Web Designers — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 13:07:00 +0000

"Islands in the stream, that is what they are..." Jake and Dolly get close! Photo courtesy of Dave King/Eyeworks.tv.
Sometimes it seems like all the good TV comes from England. Doctor Who, Ab Fab, Graham Norton... And the Brits seem to crank out endless cool music/rock documentaries, too. On December 26th, folks in the UK get a belated Xmas gift when T4 airs “When Jake Met Dolly” in which “the excitable Scissor Sisters frontman Jake Shears fulfills a lifelong ambition by meeting his heroine Dolly Parton, the legendary Queen of Country!” Ummm... When do we get to see this Stateside, eh?
In the special, evidently Jake and Dolly hang out in her bedroom, they discuss her life and career and take “an eye-popping winter wonderland walk through her camp-as-Christmas travelling wardrobe.” Not fair! I wanna see...
Evidently Dolly was in England promoting her new tour (her new album Backwoods Barbie is due in February) and launching the UK arm of her children’s charity project, “Imagination Library.” Attagirl, Dora Lee!
Here’s a clip of Jake and Dolly, and there's another after the jump. They talk about gayness and boobs! Fine and dandy...

Read Full Article

Blog brought to you by S.D. Professionals, LLC :: East Tennessee Web Design

League of Extraordinary Teens in Cleveland, Tennessee

iPhone Web Designers — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 13:09:00 +0000

Bradley County now has four members of the League of Extraordinary Teens, a program of the Governor's Books from Birth Foundation in accordance with the Dolly Parton Imagination Library.
All four League members are students at Walker Valley High School, and are members of that school's Beta Club. They include 10th graders Melani Owens, Bethany Thomason and Joshua Eckelberry, and 12th grader Dani Armstrong.
Armstrong was the first to complete her requirements for League inclusion, and Owens, Thomason and Eckelberry soon followed. Each took on the task of meeting League requirements as a Beta Club project.
A program of the Governor’s Books from Birth Foundation, the League of Extraordinary Teens is a unique and hands-on statewide initiative seeking to engage Tennesseans ages 13 to 19 in the financial and logistical support of Dolly Parton's Imagination Library. League membership requires teens to personally register a minimum of 10 children and raise a minimum of $135 to cover the cost of enrolling those children in their county's Imagination Library for a full year.
In all, these four students raised over $900 and signed up well over the minimum requirement.
“I was so proud to see them take on this project and run with it,” said WVHS Beta Club sponsor Ashley Fox. “It is such a good program to get these books into the hands of pre-school children, and I know that these students feel the same.”
The Dolly Parton Imagination Library mails a new, age-appropriate, hardcover book every month to children from birth to the time they turn five, at no cost to the family. United Way of Bradley County administers the program locally.
Beta Club members at Walker Valley High School, Bradley Central High School and Cleveland High School worked earlier this year on a project where they were helping sign up children for the program at a home football game. Several children were signed up during that project, and money was also raised then for the program.
“It is wonderful to see these students getting involved in helping us not only sign up children for the Imagination Library and raise funds to help us locally but also to be good spokespersons for the program,” said United Way of Bradley County President and CEO Brenda Abel. “We appreciate Melanie, Brittany, Joshua and Dani, and the other Beta Club members in our community, who have been involved.”
Currently, 208 teenagers representing 36 counties have already been inducted and countless others are creatively working toward membership in the League of Extraordinary Teens. These teen-agers have personally registered more than 2,290 children and personally raised more than $28,645 for their counties’ Imagination Library program. Additionally, nine counties have received donations from local Beta Clubs totaling more than $3,835.
Full Story
Blog brought to you by S.D. Professionals, LLC :: East Tennessee Web Designers

Barnes & Noble reach out to help support Dolly's Imagination Library

iPhone Web Designers — Sat, 15 Dec 2007 12:44:00 +0000

Collaboration = Happy Holidays for everyone! December 14, 2007 07:56 AM

SELCO:
Now that my husband and I have wireless in our house, we have the nasty habit of bringing our laptops into bed with us at night and catching up on all of the daily news, celebrity gossip, and posting activity to our facebook and MySpace pages. Last night, I was catching up on Minnesota news, and I read a snippet in the St. Cloud Times about the United Way partnering with a local Barnes and Noble for a day--when items were purchased at Barnes and Noble while using a special voucher, 10-25% of the purchase price went to the Imagination Library project. While these two organizations are on the larger scale of things, the collaboration between the two during the holidays can be inspirational for every organization, including libraries.
This holiday season, try to collaborate as much as possible with local businesses/organizations to make a positive impact in your community. Partner with the local food bank in your area and make your location a collection hub. Volunteer for an evening at a local shelter. If you are in the Rochester area, get together with other local organizations to bake cookies for the Gift of Life Transplant House and the Ronald McDonald House or take a group field trip the Mayo Eugenio Litta Children's Hospital (located within St. Mary's) and read to the little ones who can't make it to the regular story hours at the library. All of the little things count. I have found that every library staff person I have encountered is incredibly passionate about his/her job and is completely devoted to serving the needs of library patrons. This holiday season, let's open our hearts and serve the needs of our entire community. Happy Holidays!

Blog brought to you by S.D. Professionals, LLC :: Tennessee Web Designers

Dolly's Imaginaiton Library growing strong in Alaska!

iPhone Web Designers — Sat, 15 Dec 2007 12:39:00 +0000

Local Imagination Library celebrates one year of success Approximately 600 children participate in Dolly Parton program

"Dolly Parton grew up in a home without books, and her vision is that all young children will have their very own books," said Robin Bergey, the enrollment coordinator of the program at the Association for the Education of Young Children. "When kids have access to their own books, they are incredibly good at getting an adult to sit down and read with them."
According to Bergey, there has been a dramatic increase in the numbers of adults reading with children on a daily basis. A survey two years ago of parents of preschoolers showed that only 50 percent of Juneau parents were reading daily with their preschoolers, similar to national statistics. Last month an identical survey found that 76 percent of parents are now reading an average of a book a day or more with their preschoolers.
The Dolly Parton Imagination Library program was launched by a literacy task force in December of 2006 with a $9,000 grant from Communities In Schools, which was matched by support from local organizations and individuals. Task force members include AEYC, Communities In Schools, KTOO, United Way of Southeast Alaska, the Juneau Public Library and Tlingit and Haida Head Start.
"Parents reading with children is one of the most important predictors of school readiness," according to Elsa Demeksa, executive director of Communities In Schools, a local organization committed to increasing graduation rates in Juneau.
"A child that can read, is a child that will succeed," Demeksa said. "This program gets right to the heart of the matter - putting books directly into the hands of children and families."
The local match to sponsor a child is $30 per year, for 12 hard cover books tailored to the age of the child.
"A donation in a child's name is a fabulous gift idea for any child" stated Bergey. Due to generous volunteer support, the funds go directly to purchasing the books, which are mailed by the Dollywood Foundation. "This program has proved it works, and now we need to keep the train rolling for a second year," emphasized Demeksa.
The literacy task force invites individuals, businesses, and organizations to be part of this successful effort. Sponsors are recognized by a display at the downtown library. Sponsor forms and enrollment forms are located at the Mendenhall Valley and downtown libraries, on the AEYC Web site at www.aeyc-sea.org or by calling 789-1235.

Blog brought to you by S.D. Professionals, LLC :: Tennessee Blimp Photography

Stephen Shoemaker print to benefit Dolly's Imagination Library

iPhone Web Designers — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 13:05:00 +0000

Shoemaker print to benefit Imagination Library Artist Stephen Shoemaker will sign prints of “Imagination Library” on Thursday, Dec. 13 at the Mount Jefferson Branch of AF Bank. This whimsical work of art is a fundraising project for the Dolly Parton Imagination Library and Ashe Partnership for Children.(Post photo by Linda Burchette) by Linda Burchette, Assistant EditorPublished: Monday, December 10, 2007 10:48 AM CSTBooks let your imagination run wild, and for youngsters, reading can open a whole world of new thoughts and experiences. To help promote reading among youth, Ashe County implemented last year the Dolly Parton Imagination Library with free books for children.
To help promote and support the program, local artist Stephen Shoemaker has created a special print, “Imagination Library,” sponsored by Bob Washburn and AF Bank.
“Bob Washburn said he wanted to do something special for the Imagination Library, so he said create something,” Shoemaker said. This delightful print is the result.

Blog by S.D. Professionals, LLC :: Tennessee Web

Postman makes special delivery to Dolly Parton

iPhone Web Designers — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 12:08:00 +0000

POSTMAN Clive Loveday made a special delivery to Dolly Parton.
The Swindon postie was entrusted with delivering the first book to children at the UK launch of the country singer's Imagination Library.
The US singer, pictured right during a patriotic gig, was in London to present books to youngsters from Rotherham who are the first on the scheme, which provides a new book each month from birth until the age of five.
A person in the local community funds the cost of the books, while Dolly Parton's foundation covers the overheads.
Mr Loveday, of Hythe Road, Old Town, was invited to deliver the books because he is Royal Mail's community postman of the year in recognition of his work teaching young people the dangers of alcohol.

Blog Dolly is brought to you by S.D. Professionals, LLC :: Tennessee Web Design

"I want Brit Kids to Love Books too" Dolly Parton

iPhone Web Designers — Sun, 09 Dec 2007 11:51:00 +0000

"I GREW up poor and ragged in the hills of east Tennessee.
I knew my dreams would come true and I know there are people in British communities with their own dreams.
They dream of becoming a doctor or an inventor or a minister. Who knows, maybe there is a little girl whose dream is to be a writer and singer.
The seeds of these dreams are often found in books. The seeds people help plant in their community can grow across the world.
The Imagination Library Program is one of the most important ways I know to improve the educational opportunities for children.
We have seen it work in our own backyard and I’m certain it can do the same in British communities too.
We were contacted by the Rotherham people last year. They were in the US working on some other things when a girl from Tennessee tourism told them about the program.
This year we are distributing 11million books in the US. We started in Canada last year and now we’re coming to Britain.
But we don’t want to go where we’re not necessarily wanted. We only want to go in where we can help.
It’s not just for poor children – it’s for all children.
From the day they’re born, they will get a book a month till they are five. All the books arrive in their name in the mail.
In my backyard the children call me the Book Lady – they think I actually bring the books myself. "

.......................Dolly Parton

Blog brought to you by S.D. Professionals, LLC

Love for Dolly's Imagination Library spreads around the world!

iPhone Web Designers — Sat, 08 Dec 2007 12:08:00 +0000

Allison & Busby Books
I have always adored Dolly Parton, ever since watching her hold her own against the comic genius of Lily Tomlin, Jane Fonda and Dabney Coleman in 9 to 5. So I was delighted to see that the Queen of Country was visiting our fair shores this week at the request of Rotherham Council. Rotherham? As in South Yorkshire? Indeedy. Dolly had been invited to launch a very special literacy project, based on the remarkable Imagination Library scheme she originally introduced in her native Tennessee back in 1995. The scheme has now extended to over 500 counties spread across 36 states, and sends every pre-school age child a free book every month. Isn't that amazing? Rotherham are going to adopt the scheme from 2008 and Dolly was their guest of honour at the launch.
more

Blog Dolly brought to you by S.D. Professionals, LLC

Dolly causes one-hour delay town hall meeting.......(so what right?)

iPhone Web Designers — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 12:45:00 +0000

The country music star Dolly Parton brought a touch of Tennessee glamour to the South Yorkshire town of Rotherham today, but aroused rather the wrong passions in some of her council hosts. Miss Parton delighted the audience at the rather incongruous setting of the Magna Science Adventure Centre in Rotherham with a typically belting rendition of her hit “9 to 5,” following the UK launch of her children’s literacy scheme Imagination Library. But Miss Parton’s visit caused a stir of an unfamiliar kind among some Rotherham councillors, who complained that democracy – in the form of a one-hour town hall meeting - had been delayed for the whims of Council Leader Roger Stone, a dedicated Dolly fan. Mr Stone was introduced to Imagination Library during a visit to Nashville last year on official council and chamber of commerce business. He later persuaded her to choose Rotherham for the UK launch of the project, which, funded by her Dollywood Foundation, posts books to children every month up until the age of five - and joined her on stage today.

more

Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library Expands to United Kingdom

iPhone Web Designers — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 13:10:00 +0000

Entertainment legend travels to London and Rotherham for announcement.
PIGEON FORGE, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Entertainment superstar Dolly Parton was at London’s Savoy Hotel today and travels to the Magna Science and Adventure Park in Rotherham tomorrow to announce the launch of her Imagination Library program in the United Kingdom.
Founded by Parton in 1996 as a way to inspire children in her hometown of Sevierville, Tenn., the Imagination Library provides a new, age appropriate book each month from birth until age five to registered children in participating communities. A local sponsor in each community funds the cost of the books and mailing while Parton’s Foundation covers the overhead, selects the books, and negotiates the cost. She has created The Dollywood Foundation of the United Kingdom to manage the efforts in the UK.
Currently, 15,000 children are eligible in Rotherham. The effort is sponsored by the Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council.
“I’m just thrilled beyond my wildest dreams at how my Imagination Library has grown from my home county in the U.S., all the way across the pond to The United Kingdom,” Parton said. “I can’t say enough about the kind folks of Rotherham who invited us here, and I look so forward to working with our local partners all across the UK to give books to as many kids as possible.”
In honor of the program’s UK launch, Parton presented the first book in London to Rotherham’s first registered participants. She also will pay a visit to Rotherham where she will present the first book to a newborn. Parton will conclude the day’s activities by meeting with local and regional officials.
“I hope that my Imagination Library will fit in well with the many other wonderful programs here who do so much to help children,” Parton said. “Together, we can make a huge difference in the lives of so many little ones.”
Penguin Group UK will provide all books for the Imagination Library in the UK. Penguin Group USA supports the Imagination Library in the U.S. and Canada. In the UK, the Imagination Library is partnering with Royal Mail and the dsicmmGroup LTD mail house to distribute books.
In the United Kingdom, the first book in the 60-volume collection is Beatrix Potter’s popular Tales of Peter Rabbit. The first books will be mailed to registered children in early 2008.
After the launch events, Parton and her Foundation hope other communities in the United Kingdom will follow Rotherham’s lead and provide the Imagination Library to their children.
The Imagination Library currently operates in more than 700 communities in 43 states in the U.S. as well as Canada. To date, 417,000 participating children in the U.S. and Canada currently receive books, with 4.5 million books mailed this year alone. Since the program’s inception in 1996, more than 11.6 million books have been mailed.
In 2000, Parton received an Association of American Publishers (AAP) honor. On Nov. 8, the Smithsonian Institution's Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars awarded her its Woodrow Wilson Award for Public Service.
Parton recently announced new European tour dates as part of the Backwoods Barbie 2008 World Tour. The European Leg starts in Stockholm, Sweden on June 13, takes in Denmark, Norway, Holland and Ireland, culminating at the O2 Arena in London on July 5, with numerous dates in between.
Parton said, “I had a great time when we were in Europe last tour, and I expect to have even more fun on the up and coming tour. I can't wait to see all the fans again. We have a lot of new songs from my new CD, Backwoods Barbie, and a lot of fun things for everybody. Get ready cause here I come again!”
For complete tour dates and information, visit www.livenation.co.uk or 0870 400 0688.
For more information or to cover this event, contact
Dollywood Foundation Executive Director David Dotson at
1-865-654-1288 or email at ddotson@dollyfoundation.com

In Rotherham please contact
Tracy Holmes, Head of Corporate Communications and marketing Rotherham MBC,
at 01709 822735 or email at tracy.holmes@rotherham.gov.uk

For all European Interview, Preview and Tour PR Enquiries:
Steve Guest - Press and PR Manager - Live Nation Music UK
Steve.guest@LiveNation.co.uk or (0) 207 009 3371
www.livenation.co.uk

For compelte access to the world of dolly Parton visit www.DollyParton.com

Blog brought to you by S.D. Professionals, LLS :: Tennessee Web Design

BBC tells Dolly Parton's Rotherham Dream

iPhone Web Designers — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 07:40:00 +0000

The singer said it was her "dream" to help children read.

Country star Dolly Parton will jet into South Yorkshire to launch a scheme she devised to improve children's literacy.
The American singing legend set up the Imagination Library in her native East Tennessee to encourage youngsters to read more.
Council chiefs in Rotherham have taken a leaf out of the singer's book and are introducing the method locally.
Parton will launch the first UK Imagination Library at the town's Magna centre on 5 December.

Full story on the BBC

Blog brought to you by S.D. Professionals, LLC :: Tennessee Web Designers

UK in spin and Dolly isn't even there yet!

iPhone Web Designers — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 11:56:00 +0000

Country and western superstar Dolly Parton has infuriated a group of English local councillors by forcing them to delay their regular meeting when she visits this week.
Parton is travelling to Rotherham in South Yorkshire to launch her children's literacy program, Imagination Library, on Wednesday.
But some independent and Conservative councillors are outraged that Parton's visit will mean they have to delay by one hour a full meeting of Rotherham borough council so civic leaders can meet her.
"I'm boycotting the lunch and I am outraged that democracy is being put on hold because of a celebrity," independent councillor Tony Mannion told The Times.
"I have nothing against Dolly Parton. Not that I know much about her except that she sang 9 to 5.
"That's about the top and bottom of my knowledge. And I think the literacy scheme is a good idea.
"My objection is over the timing. We have vital business to discuss, for example the siting of a power station in the middle of a nature reserve. And we have few enough council meetings as it is."
Mr Mannion said he believed Parton was invited to the town because the Labour-led council leader Roger Stone was quite partial to her country and western charms.
"I suppose my complaints will fall on deaf ears and that some might say it's a storm in D-cup, or double D-cup," Mr Mannion said.
"But it's the principle."
AAP

Blog brought to you by S.D. Professionals, LLC :: Tennessee Bloggers

Dolly's Imagination Library Goes to the United Kingdom!!!!

iPhone Web Designers — Sun, 02 Dec 2007 12:29:00 +0000

Report by http://www.dollymania.net/:
The BBC on Friday promoted Dolly’s upcoming appearance in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, to kick off the first British chapter of her international literacy campaign, the Imagination Library. Read the piece here, and check out a video version of the story as well here. She will be in town on Wednesday for the event. (And don’t be confused by the word “scheme” in the article. In the Queen’s English, the word has a neutral connotation rather than the negative overtones that most Americans associate with it.) In other Library news, the addition of Forsyth County, Ga., is observed in Access North Georgia here (noting that a foundation there aims to have the program statewide by 2010 -- presently, Dolly’s native Tennessee is the only state to offer it in every county), but on a less positive note, The Fergus Falls Journal in Minnesota on Friday noted that its Otter Tail County chapter is suspending operations for six months due to lack of funding for the local share of the program with the hope to start up again in six months. More than 17,000 books have been distributed there, the story reported here

Blog brought to you by S.D. Professionals, LLC :: Tennessee Web Bloggers

Dolly Parton Leads Macy's Thanksgiving Parade

iPhone Web Designers — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 15:07:00 +0000

Dolly Parton will take her new single "Better Get to Livin'" to the streets of New York City when she kicks off the 2007 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade on Thursday, November. 22.
Dolly will be on the lead float to perform the song live and on television during the morning parade. "Better Get to Livin'" is the first single from Backwoods Barbie, her first mainstream country album in more than 17 years due out February 5. She wrote nine of the songs for the album and produced the CD with bandleader and guitarist Kent Wells.
"I've always dreamed of doing the Macy's parade," Dolly said. "I guess I don't get to watch it this year though...I'll have to tape it!"
Dolly plans to tour in the U.S. starting in February, then hitting Europe in the summer before returning to the U.S. for dates expected into December 2008.
In other news, Dolly's stage version of the 1980 film 9 to 5, will have its world premiere September 21, 2008, at the Center Theatre Group's Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles.

Full Story

Blog brought to you by S.D. Professionals, LLC :: East Tennessee's Premier Web Design Firm

Jacob Timmons performs with The Parton Family in Kingstree, South Carolina

iPhone Web Designers — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 14:15:00 +0000

Check out this exclusive performance by Jacob Timmons, Randy Parton, Heidi Lou Parton and the Moonlight Bandits during the 1st Annual Dolly Parton's Imagination Library Benefit Concert in Kingstree, South Carolina!

YOU TUBE VIDEO