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RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — Sept. 25, also known as “9 to 5 Day”, will now honor Dolly Parton and her contributions to North Carolina, the governor’s office said.
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On Friday, Gov. Josh Stein proclaimed Sept. 25 as “Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library Day of Reading” in recognition of the country music legend who also starred in the 1980 comedy “9 to 5”.
The proclamation honors Parton for increasing early childhood literacy through her Imagination Library and supporting western North Carolina after Hurricane Helene, according to the governor’s office.
Parton, a Tennessee native, died on Aug. 25 at the age of 80.
According to the governor’s office, the Imagination Library gives children from birth to the age of five a free, age-appropriate book in their mailbox every month. It has provided more than 300 million books to more than three million children around the world since beginning in 1995.
North Carolina was the first state outside of Tennessee to expand the library statewide, delivering nearly 25 million books to all 100 counties. Parents in North Carolina who participated in the program reported that their children’s reading increased from 44% to 67% every day, according to the governor’s office.
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The governor’s office said Parton donated $1 million to the Mountain Ways Foundation after Hurricane Helene devastated North Carolina’s western region. Parton’s east Tennessee businesses and the Dollywood Foundation provided a matching $1 million donation, bringing the total to $2 million.
According to the governor’s office, the donations helped families with immediate needs, such as groceries, mortgages, insurance, and rebuilding costs.
“Dolly Parton was so special: authentic and universally loved,” Stein said in a statement. “Her music was powerful and moving and she leaves a lasting impact, from advancing early literacy to helping communities rebuild after Hurricane Helene.
“The Imagination Library Day of Reading celebrates Dolly’s life and honors her artistic talents, her humanity, and her legacy of fostering a love of reading for all children,” he continued in his statement. “Today let us celebrate her legacy by reading a book or lending a helping hand.”
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The full proclamation can be viewed below.