CHESTERMERE, AB | September 15, 2026 –
The City of Chestermere has officially proclaimed September 25, 2026, as Dolly Parton and Imagination Library Day, recognizing the importance of early literacy and the impact of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library on children and families in Chestermere.
The proclamation recognizes that access to books at an early age is critical to children’s development, reading proficiency and future opportunities. It also acknowledges Dolly Parton’s longstanding commitment to ensuring children have access to books, regardless of their family’s circumstances.
For children enrolled in the Imagination Library of Chestermere, that commitment arrives at their mailbox every month.
The local program provides children from birth to age five with a free, high-quality book mailed directly to their homes each month. More than 500 children in Chestermere are currently receiving books through the program.
“Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is such a simple idea with a really meaningful impact,” says Kim Soderberg McRae, chair of the Imagination Library of Chestermere. “Every month, a child gets to open their own book and make reading part of their everyday life. It’s something our community can be really proud of.”
A new day to Give Like Dolly
This year, September 25 also marks the first Give Like Dolly Day, a new annual initiative from The Dollywood Foundation encouraging people to support local Imagination Library programs and celebrate Dolly Parton’s commitment to children and literacy.
The day was created to recognize the local organizations and community members who make the program possible. While Imagination Library is Dolly Parton’s vision, local partners are responsible for raising the funds needed to cover the wholesale book and mailing costs for children in their communities.
Dolly Parton founded Imagination Library in 1995 in honour of her father, who was unable to read or write. The program has since grown into an international early literacy initiative operating in five countries and has gifted more than 300 million books to children. More than three million books are currently mailed to children around the world each month.
For Imagination Library of Chestermere, September 25 will be an opportunity to shine a light on the local programme and invite the community to help keep it going.
Give $9.25 for September 25
To celebrate Give Like Dolly Day, Imagination Library of Chestermere is encouraging residents to make a $9.25 donation on September 25, although donations of any amount are welcome.
The $9.25 amount is simply a fun way to connect the donation with September 25. Every contribution helps support the local programme and the ongoing cost of putting books into the hands of Chestermere children.
“We know not everyone can make a large donation, and that’s okay,” says Soderberg McRae. “If you can give $9.25, wonderful. If you can give $25, $50 or $5, that matters too. And there are other ways to show your support. We’d love to see people wearing pink on September 25, or even turning their exterior house lights pink to help spread the word and celebrate Dolly Parton and the Imagination Library in our community.”
Residents can support Imagination Library of Chestermere at: https://donate.imaginationlibrary.com/?country=CA&affid=ABCHESTERMERE
Community members are also encouraged to share the campaign on social media using #GiveLikeDolly.
About Imagination Library of Chestermere
Imagination Library of Chestermere is a local programme that provides registered children from birth to age five with a free, age-appropriate book delivered directly to their home every month. The programme launched in Chestermere in 2021 and is made possible through community donations, sponsorships and local fundraising.
More than 500 Chestermere children are currently registered, and the programme has gifted more than 16,000 books to local children since it began. Each month, children receive a new book selected specifically for their age, helping families build home libraries and encouraging a lifelong love of reading from an early age.