A Cup of Ambition - donation to St Marys Imagination Library

How do you say goodbye to someone who felt like a piece of home? Dolly Parton wasn’t just a megastar; she was a fixture of our childhoods, softly humming in the background between 9 to 5, big hair, and cassette tapes playing on loop. 

Her songs held our memories, but her true greatness extended far beyond music.

Among all her gifts, Dolly’s most profound legacy lies in her crusade for children and literacy through her Imagination Library. Inspired by her own father, who never had the chance to learn to read or write, Dolly set out to ensure no child felt the shame or limitation of illiteracy—delivering a free, high-quality book every month from birth to age five.

Dolly's Legacy & Our St. Marys Community

• A Global Movement: What started in Sevier County, Tennessee, has gifted over 300 million books to young readers worldwide.

• Growing in St. Marys for 5 Years: Right here in our community, our local St. Marys Imagination Library has been flourishing for five years, bringing that exact same magic into the hands and homes of our children.

• Securing Books for Generations: We are building a permanent fund with a goal of $300,000 to ensure every child in St. Marys receives these books for a very, very long time to come.

• Closing the $50,000 Gap: We are so close—the gap to fully funding this legacy is now just $50,000.

Please consider donating today to help us close this final gap. Together, we can ensure Dolly’s vision and legacy live on right here in St. Marys—one book, one child, and one cozy storytime at a time.

St Marys Imagination Library has almost no expenses outside of books and delivery with an average cost of $3.85 per book! No rent, mortgage, staffing, marketing, etc. The credit card fee and very, very low administration costs to manage the fund.

We are building literacy, one book, one child at a time.

Please enjoy as many cups as you can!!!