Her music made her a star, yet those who met her say her compassion made the deepest impact.
"She was such a beacon of inspiration and hope for our children," said Carl Shaw, assistant director of community engagement and programs at the Wilmington Public Library.
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Parton launched the Imagination Library in 1995, a bookgifting program that mails free books each month to children from birth to age 5.
In 2022, she expanded the program statewide in Delaware and visited the Wilmington Public Library, where Shaw said her presence matched her public persona.
"What we saw on screen that made her so infectious was right here in this building, and everyone wanted a piece of it," he said.
Parton created the initiative in honor of her father, who never learned to read or write.
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Wilmington Mayor John Carney said her humility shaped her philanthropy.
"She's such a warm and loving spirit. I think part of it is where she came from and how she worked her way up. She never let stardom get to her."
Her work has been recognized nationally.
In 2020, Foundations Inc., a Mount Laurelbased nonprofit focused on improving education, awarded her the Champion of Children Award.
"You are indeed the greatest champion of all," the CEO said during the ceremony.
Parton said the honor reflected what mattered most to her.
"I do win a lot of awards, but this is so important to me because I love the children and I'm so proud - probably of all the things that I do in my life is being part of this Imagination Library," she said.
Rhonda Lauer, CEO and president of Foundations Inc., said Parton's generosity extended far beyond her music career.
"She was the most caring, loving; she had no children of her own, but she felt that all children were hers."
Parton hopes to plant seeds of dreams in communities so they too can flourish.
"Everybody loved her music, but that spirit that's in her music, that's in her charitable work, is who she is and how she should be remembered."
Since its inception, the Imagination Library has donated more than 300 million books to children. Parton also founded the Dollywood Foundation, which supports scholarships, disaster relief and medical research.