Capitol Federal Foundation Donates $2,500 to The Library Foundation in Honor of Dolly Parton's Legacy
The Library Foundation is pleased to announce a $2,500 gift from the Capitol Federal Foundation® to support Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, a program that continues to put the joy and lifelong benefits of reading into the hands of young children throughout the community.
The gift comes at a particularly meaningful time following the passing of Dolly Parton on August 25, 2026. Through her music, philanthropy, and unwavering belief in the power of books, Parton touched generations of lives. Her Imagination Library has become one of her most enduring legacies, providing free, high-quality, age-appropriate books each month to children from birth through age five.
“We are incredibly grateful to the Capitol Federal Foundation for this generous gift and for recognizing the importance of continuing Dolly Parton’s vision,” said Ashley Charest, Executive Director of The Library Foundation. “Dolly believed every child should have the opportunity to discover the magic of a book. This donation helps ensure that her legacy of putting books into the hands of children continues right here in Topeka and Shawnee County.”
Launched by Parton in 1995, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library began as a local effort to provide books to children in her home county in East Tennessee. The program has since expanded internationally, with millions of books gifted each month. The program is designed to inspire a lifelong love of reading and make books accessible to children regardless of their family’s income.
“Dolly Parton gave the world so many gifts, but perhaps one of her most lasting gifts is the belief that every child deserves the opportunity to dream,” said John B. Dicus, Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Capitol Federal®. “We are honored to help carry that dream forward. Every book delivered represents another child discovering a story, learning something new, and imagining what might be possible.”
The Capitol Federal Foundation’s $2,500 contribution will help support the local Imagination Library program, allowing more children to experience the excitement of receiving a book of their very own in the mail. In Shawnee County, it costs $32 per year, per child to fund the program. Over the course of the program, each child receives 60 books at a total cost of $160. The Capitol Federal Foundation’s generous $2,500 gift will help provide the full Imagination Library experience to 16 local children, giving each child the opportunity to build their own home library and develop a lifelong love of reading.
