Dolly Parton remembered for inspiring PJ Library and championing children's literacy

Dolly Parton, who passed away at 80, is remembered for her profound impact on children's literacy, particularly inspiring the creation of PJ Library. In 2015, Harold Grinspoon launched PJ Library, a program distributing free Jewish children's books, after being inspired by Parton's Imagination Library, which mails free books to children across the US. Parton's initiative stemmed from her father's illiteracy, as she stated, "This actually started because my father could not read and write, and I saw how crippling that could be." PJ Library and the Harold Grinspoon Foundation honored Parton, recalling her words to Grinspoon: "I am honored to get to help inspire a love of reading in children. They truly are our future." Parton's legacy also includes her close ties with the Jewish community, despite a past controversial comment for which she later apologized, stating, "I know how stereotypes can be hurtful."