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

From Jerusalem Post · () English

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  • Dolly Parton, the celebrated singer who died at age 80, is being remembered for her significant impact on children's literacy, including inspiring the creation of the Jewish book program PJ Library.
  • PJ Library founder Harold Grinspoon was motivated by Parton's own Imagination Library program, which mails free children's books to families, to create a similar initiative for Jewish children.
  • Parton's philanthropic efforts in literacy stemmed from her own upbringing in poverty and her father's inability to read and write, emphasizing the transformative power of books.

Dolly Parton, the iconic singer-songwriter and philanthropist, has been mourned globally following her death at age 80. Beyond her stellar music career and entrepreneurial ventures, Parton is being remembered in Jewish communities for her pivotal role in inspiring the creation of PJ Library, a program that distributes free children's books to Jewish families worldwide.

We should create a Jewish version of Imagination Library.

— Harold GrinspoonRecalled by his daughter-in-law, Winnie Sandler Grinspoon, as his motivation for founding PJ Library.

Harold Grinspoon, the founder of PJ Library, launched the initiative in 2015, drawing direct inspiration from Parton's decade-old Imagination Library. This program, which mails free children's books to families across the United States, deeply resonated with Grinspoon. After hearing Parton discuss her program, he became a sponsor and recognized the potential for a similar Jewish version.

I am honored to get to help inspire a love of reading in children. They truly are our future.

— Dolly PartonShared with Harold Grinspoon and PJ Library in a tribute.

Grinspoon's daughter-in-law and president of the Harold Grinspoon Foundation, Winnie Sandler Grinspoon, recalled his vision: "We should create a Jewish version of Imagination Library." He sought to foster Jewish literacy and connection to traditions, noting a perceived decline in engagement among younger generations. PJ Library has since grown to reach over 670,000 subscribers in 40 countries.

Harold remembers Dolly as ‘a truly amazing person, not only a great artist, but a great entrepreneur and philanthropist.

— Winnie Sandler GrinspoonRecalling Harold Grinspoon's impression of Dolly Parton.

In a tribute, PJ Library and the Harold Grinspoon Foundation shared a poignant quote from Parton: "I am honored to get to help inspire a love of reading in children. They truly are our future." Grinspoon remembered her as "a truly amazing person, not only a great artist, but a great entrepreneur and philanthropist." Parton's commitment to literacy was deeply personal, rooted in her childhood in rural Tennessee, where she was one of 12 children and her father, despite being intelligent, could not read or write. This experience fueled her lifelong dedication to ensuring children have access to books.

This actually started because my father could not read and write, and I saw how crippling that could be.

— Dolly PartonExplaining the origins of her Imagination Library program.
About this summary

Originally published by Jerusalem Post. Summarized and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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