08/27/2026
“Let’s share this dream that all children should grow up in a home full of books.” — Dolly Parton
The Community Trust Foundation joins people around the world in mourning the passing of Dolly Parton. Her extraordinary legacy extends far beyond music and lives on in the millions of children she encouraged to dream, learn, and discover through the Imagination Library.
Here in Allegany County, that dream took root in 2011 through a partnership of the Allegany County Board of Education, Allegany County Library System, Community Trust Foundation, County United Way, now Potomac Highlands United Way, Allegany County Human Resources Development Commission, Cumberland YMCA, and dedicated community members.
Today, 1,735 local children receive a book each month, 5,815 children have graduated from the program, and more than 320,000 books have been mailed since the program began in Allegany County.
For more than a decade, CTF has supported this shared community effort through the Allegany County Imagination Library Fund.
Dolly showed us that books can help children imagine possibilities beyond what they already know and that ability to see possibility is at the heart of resilience. We are proud to join our community partners in carrying her beautiful vision forward.
Honor Dolly’s memory by helping keep the pages turning for Allegany County children:
https://ctfinc.org/allegany-county-imagination-library-fund/