Yesterday, the Library of Congress honored country singer Dolly Parton and her Imagination Library project.
Since 1996, Dolly has arranged for new books to be sent to young children every month. She launched the program to honor her father, who never learned to read or write. The event yesterday marked Imagination Library’s 100 millionth book.
To mark the milestone, Dolly read (and sang) from her own book, based on her beloved song, “Coat of Many Colors.”
Nearly 10 years ago, Dolly partnered with the Tanasi Girl Scout Council (now the Girl Scout Council of the Southern Appalachians) to create a Coat of Many Colors patch program. The patch, which can be earned by non-Girl Scouts, teaches resilience and self-respect in the face of bullying.
As Dolly said in 2008,
Be proud of who you are, and be kind to everyone you meet. That’s what Girl Scouting is all about.
Today, the need for building such resilience is even greater than when she wrote her song in 1971.
Dolly Parton is a lifetime Girl Scout, and I am proud to be her Girl Scout Sister!
© 2018 Ann Robertson