The expansion, announced by Jeff Conyers, president of the Dollywood Foundation, will increase the number of eligible children in the capital to 157,000, up from the previous rollout. The scheme, inspired by Dolly Parton’s belief that every child should fall in love with books, delivers a free, age‑appropriate picture book to participating families each month.
Conyers said the additional funding “means Dolly’s extraordinary work does not simply continue, it grows,” adding that the support from Postcode Lottery players will bring “the excitement of a book arriving through their door every month” to thousands more families.
The Dollywood Foundation, which runs the programme under the banner of the Imagination Library, relies on charitable contributions to cover the cost of printing, shipping and administration. The latest contribution from Postcode Lottery participants will fund the books for the newly eligible children for the duration of the programme.
Officials highlighted the timing of the expansion amid concerns about early childhood literacy. Recent figures show only 41% of children aged four and under are read to frequently, a decline from 64% in 2012. Advocates hope the increased reach of the free‑book scheme will encourage more families to read together and improve those statistics.
The foundation urges parents to “sit down and read a book together in honour of Dolly,” emphasizing that sharing stories is a simple way to inspire, educate and connect with children.