From United Way of Central Kansas
Barton and Pawnee counties have officially proclaimed Sept. 25, 2026, as Dolly Day, joining United Way of Central Kansas in a community-wide celebration of Dolly Parton’s legacy of literacy, kindness and generosity.
The proclamations recognize Sept. 25 as a day to celebrate Parton’s lasting contributions to childhood literacy and encourage residents, businesses and organizations to support the continued growth of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library locally. The 9/25 date also provides a fitting nod to Parton’s iconic song “9 to 5,” giving the community a memorable way to celebrate her legacy while investing in the next generation of readers.
Participation can be as simple or creative as each organization chooses. Businesses can invite customers to round up purchases, donate $1 or a percentage of sales from a featured product, create a Dolly-inspired food, drink or service, encourage employees to give $9.25, sponsor a child for a year, dress in Dolly-inspired attire or simply help spread the word.
“Dolly Day is an opportunity to have some fun while celebrating something that has made a tremendous difference for children and families in our communities,” said Charell Owings, executive director of United Way of Central Kansas. “We want businesses and organizations to make it their own. However you choose to Dolly, you are helping us continue putting books directly into the hands of local children.”
Parton founded the Imagination Library in 1995 in her home county of Sevier County, Tennessee. Inspired by her father, who could not read or write, Parton wanted children to grow up with books in their homes regardless of their families’ incomes. What began with an order of approximately 1,700 books has grown into an international early childhood literacy program mailing millions of books each month.
The program became available statewide in Kansas in 2023, making Kansas children from birth to age 5 eligible to participate. The Kansas Children’s Cabinet and Trust Fund covers half the cost of books and mailing, while local partners such as United Way of Central Kansas raise the remaining half.
Locally, the program has already reached thousands of families. Since its inception, 59,700 books have been mailed to 2,251 children in Barton County. Today, 725 Barton County children receive a free, age-appropriate book in their mailbox each month.
Those books are intended to do more than build home libraries. Reading together from birth supports language, cognitive and social-emotional development, strengthens caregiver relationships and improves school readiness, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Recent international research involving more than 86,000 caregivers across five countries also demonstrated the impact of the Imagination Library. After receiving 10 books, participating children were at least four times more likely to demonstrate stronger emerging literacy skills and nine times more likely to be read to four or more days each week.
“Those 59,700 books represent so much more than a number,” Owings said. “They represent thousands of bedtime stories, new words learned, favorite books read over and over again and moments shared between children and the people who love them. Dolly gave us an incredible model. Our job locally is to make sure it continues reaching the next generation.”
How to “Dolly Your Way” on 9•25
United Way of Central Kansas is encouraging businesses and organizations to choose an option that works for them. Ideas include rounding up customer purchases for Dolly, donating $1 or a portion of proceeds from a featured item, inviting employees to give $9.25 and matching their gifts, sponsoring a child for $30 to provide 12 books over one year, creating a Dolly-inspired product or promotion, dressing like Dolly or simply displaying Dolly Day materials and sharing the campaign on social media.
Individuals can also participate by making a $9.25 gift on 9/25 or sponsoring a little reader for a full year.
Participating businesses will have access to promotional materials and social media graphics from United Way of Central Kansas to make it easy to join the community-wide campaign.
Dolly Day will culminate Sept. 25 during Fridays on Forest in downtown Great Bend, where the community can celebrate Parton’s legacy and learn more about Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library and its impact on local children.
United Way of Central Kansas expressed its appreciation to Barton and Pawnee County commissioners for recognizing Sept. 25 as Dolly Day and to the donors, organizations and families who have helped grow the Imagination Library locally.
Businesses, organizations and individuals interested in participating in Dolly Day can contact United Way of Central Kansas at unitedwaycentralks@gmail.com or visit the United Way of Central Kansas’ Facebook page for information and campaign materials.
About United Way of Central Kansas
United Way of Central Kansas serves Barton and Pawnee counties by bringing together donors, businesses, nonprofit organizations and community partners to address local needs and create lasting impact. United Way of Central Kansas serves as the local partner for Dolly Parton’s
Imagination Library, helping raise funds, promote enrollment and connect area families with free, age-appropriate books delivered directly to their homes.