Governor's Early Literacy Foundation

09/25/2026

We're working 9 to 5 on 9/25 for all 95 counties! 📚

Today is Give Like Dolly Day, and Governor's Early Literacy Foundation and House Speaker Cameron Sexton are calling on Tennesseans to help grow Dolly Parton's Imagination Library.

State leaders have proposed expanding State-supported funding through GELF from 50% to 100% of book and mailing costs beginning in FY28. Until then, the current 50/50 model remains in place, making continued giving essential.

Nearly 119,000 eligible Tennessee children are not yet enrolled. Here's how you can step up alongside the State:

📖 Enroll a child.
📖 Help pay for a child. Just $36 covers a year of books.
📖 Invest in early literacy by partnering with GELF.

Take action and learn more about growing Dolly Parton's Imagination Library in Tennessee here: https://governorsfoundation.org/news/gelf-speaker-sexton-launch-statewide-call-for-tennesseans-to-grow-dolly-parton-s-imagination-library

When we give like Dolly, we help more Tennessee children grow up with books at home and a love of reading that lasts a lifetime. 📚

09/23/2026

Today, GELF was recognized as the 2026 Seeds of Imagination honoree at Knox County Public Library's annual luncheon benefiting Dolly Parton's Imagination Library of Knox County .

Each month, their team mails an age-appropriate book to enrolled Knox County children from birth to age five, at no cost to them. They show up for families every single day, and it means so much to be recognized by partners who do this work so well. Thank you, Imagination Library of Knox County!

Every book in a child's mailbox starts with partnerships like this one. Here's to growing Tennessee's future readers, together!

09/09/2026

Week 2 of OWL (Opportunities with Literacy) Fest in Memphis is underway, and we still need volunteers to help bring book joy to schools in Memphis! Interested in volunteering? Learn more and sign up here: https://governorsfoundation.org/home-library/k-3-home-library/owl-fest/volunteer-owl-fest

09/09/2026

Dolly said it best!

Every book really is a treasure.

09/09/2026

Our team is sharing OWL (Opportunities with Literacy) Fest joy in Memphis again this week! Last week, we visited Scenic Hills Elementary and had a blast. Check out these smiling faces enjoying their new books!

09/04/2026

Summer reading led to summer creativity for two TN students. Each year, rising 1st–3rd graders in participating school districts receive a K-3 Home Library bookpack with six books and activity sheets. One of the books in this year's pack, Ellie May on President's Day, was paired with an activity inviting kids to design their own parade float.

These two took it and ran with it, crafting their own floats over the summer and proudly bringing them to school on day one.

Moments like these are why we do this work. Books don't just build reading skills, they spark creativity that kids carry with them all year long.

Learn more about K-3 Home Library here: https://governorsfoundation.org/home-library/k-3-home-library

09/04/2026

Week one of OWL Fest is in the books! 📚

In partnership with the Tennessee Department of Education, OWL (Opportunities with Literacy) Fest is a traveling bookstore experience for priority schools across Tennessee. Students in PreK–5th grade select six books from a curated collection to build their home libraries, at no cost to them! Our volunteers spent the week bringing this experience to schools across Memphis, helping students pick out books to keep forever. Thank you to everyone who came out to make it happen!

We're back in Memphis next week and would love more hands on deck. Sign up to volunteer: https://governorsfoundation.org/home-library/k-3-home-library/owl-fest/volunteer-owl-fest

09/03/2026

Cordell Hull Lake's new Storybook Trails are turning heads, and for good reason.

They show just how well reading and the outdoors can come together, giving families a fresh way to enjoy story time.

Find one near you: https://bookerstreehouse.org/community

09/03/2026

Last weekend, Regal raised more than $20,000 during the Dolly tribute moving screenings! That will provide 15,480 books to 1,290 TN children enrolled in Dolly Parton's Imagination Library next year. Thank you, Regal and everyone who went to one of the screenings!

Get your popcorn ready! Regal is bringing two Dolly movies back to theaters as a tribute, with 100% of proceeds benefiting Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, through Governor’s Early Literacy Foundation, the program’s statewide partner. The tribute kicks off at 12 Regal theatres across Tennessee this weekend and will expand to Regal theatres nationwide next weekend.

🎬 Saturday, Aug. 29: The Best Little Wh******se in Texas
🎬 Sunday, Aug. 30: Steel Magnolias

Advance tickets to Tennessee showtimes are available now at theatre box offices/kiosks, on the mobile app, and through REGmovies.com. To learn more about Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library and how the program continues Dolly’s commitment to inspiring a love of reading in children around the world, visit ImaginationLibrary.com.

09/02/2026

There are several great ways to honor Dolly's legacy in Middle Tennessee this month. United Way of Greater Nashville has a lineup of events supporting Dolly Parton's Imagination Library, including a 9to5K Run & Walk, A Dolly Good Time, and Studios & Stories events.

"Through Imagination Library, Dolly gave generations of children more than books," said Erica Mitchell, CEO of United Way of Greater Nashville. "She gave them the joy of being read to, the confidence to learn and the promise that their community believes in their future."

Read more about the upcoming events here:

Join United Way in honoring Dolly Parton through Imagination Library events. Support childhood literacy and help provide free books to children.