August 26, 2026
USPIE remembers the life and legacy of Dolly Parton, a true champion for children’s literature
‘Dolly was inspired by her father’s inability to read, understanding that the seeds of children’s dreams are often found in books and the seeds planted in your community can grow across the world’
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Yesterday, the world was saddened by the news of Dolly Parton’s passing. While Dolly will be remembered for her monumental music and entertainment career, her impact reached far beyond the stage. As an advocate for children’s literature, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library has gifted over 332 million high-quality, age-appropriate books directly to children’s homes across five countries; “she wanted children to be excited about books and to feel the magic that books can create.” Regardless of their family’s income, Parton was committed to ensuring that every child could have access to books, providing them with the seeds to fulfill their dreams.
Melanie Kurdys, a board member of United States Parents Involved in Education (USPIE) and Michigan PIE president, shared, “We were saddened to hear of the passing of a powerful, influential woman, Dolly Parton. The Imagination Library she set up in 1995 provides free, wholesome books to children from birth to 5 years old. Dolly was inspired by her father’s inability to read, understanding that the seeds of children’s dreams are often found in books and the seeds planted in your community can grow across the world. Dolly’s legacy will be remembered as this important program helps to accomplish a critical objective our government schools have failed to do.”
To hear from USPIE’s Founder and President, Sheri Few, tune in to this week’s episode of USPIE’s podcast, “Unmasking Government Schools with Sheri Few,” where Few is joined by Dr. Susan Berry, physician, medical journalist and founder of Lumen-News. In this episode, Dr. Berry examines the Trump administration’s efforts to hold schools accountable for protecting students from sexual predators, the practice of “passing the trash,” and why greater transparency and enforcement matter for families. USPIE’s “Unmasking Government Schools with Sheri Few” is a weekly podcast that exposes the dangers of education shaped by government bureaucrats and social engineers, while exploring practical ways to protect children and preserve America’s freedom. Listen to “Unmasking Government Schools with Sheri Few” on YouTube, Facebook, Spotify and X.
United States Parents Involved in Education (USPIE) is a nonprofit, nationwide coalition that is fighting to return education to its proper local roots and restore parental authority over their children’s education by helping parents and local communities to escape federal and other national influences. It is the vision of USPIE to create a culture where parents, empowered with the authority to choose what and how their children learn, are the undisputed primary educators of their children, where local schools operate in support of families, and where education is unencumbered by federal mandates.
USPIE’s powerful documentary, “Truth & Lies in American Education,” addresses some of the most glaring issues in the American education system and helps parents experience a paradigm shift in how they think about education and the role of their local schools. The film follows Few’s daughter-in-law, April, as she seeks to learn more about the system she was planning on exposing her own children and learns the shocking truth. “Truth & Lies in American Education” is available for streaming on SalemNOW, as well as on DVD.
For more information on United States Parents Involved in Education, visit www.uspie.org or follow USPIE on Facebook or X.
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To interview a representative from United States Parents Involved in Education, contact Hamilton Strategies, Media@HamiltonStrategies.com, Beth Bogucki, 610.584.1096, ext. 105, or Daniel Moyer, ext. 104.
