Follett Educational Foundation
Mar 11, 2026
The Follett Educational Foundation has announced a new partnership with Chinle Planting Hope to expand access to Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library for young children living on the Navajo Nation in Apache County, Arizona.
McHenry, Ill. / Chinle, Ariz. — Through this partnership, the Follett Educational Foundation has made an initial contribution to support the enrollment of up to 200 additional children from birth to age five in Apache County. Enrolled children will receive a high-quality, age-appropriate book delivered directly to their home each month at no cost to families, helping to build early literacy skills and foster a love of reading during a child’s most critical developmental years.
“After many efforts to find the right path to make a meaningful and lasting impact in Indigenous communities, this partnership with Chinle Planting Hope feels especially powerful,” said Britten Follett, President of the Follett Educational Foundation. “By bringing Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library to children across the Navajo Nation, we are investing not only in books, but in equity, opportunity, and the lifelong joy of reading.”
Chinle Planting Hope, a community-based nonprofit serving families in and around Chinle, Arizona, will act as the local program partner, leading enrollment efforts and supporting families as they join the Imagination Library. The organization has a long-standing commitment to literacy through initiatives such as its READ in Beauty Bookmobile and plans for a future community library.
“We are deeply grateful to the Follett Educational Foundation for this generous investment in our children and our community,” said Janice Dunn, Executive Director and President of Chinle Planting Hope. “This partnership ensures that more Diné children will grow up with books in their homes, strengthening cultural pride, family connection, and a foundation for lifelong learning.”
Chinle Planting Hope is prepared to rapidly enroll families across its service area, with early signups already demonstrating strong community demand. Michelle Anthony, Regional Director, Dollywood Foundation says, "At Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, we are actively helping close the achievement gap by placing books in children’s hands from birth, building a critical foundation for kindergarten readiness and strong third grade reading outcomes."
This initiative represents the Follett Educational Foundation’s third significant Imagination Library partnership - and its first serving a tribal nation with the goal of expanding support in years ahead. For more information and to sign up for the program, contact chinleplantinghope@gmail.com.
About Follett Educational Foundation | folletteducationalfoundation.org
Established in 1964, the Follett Educational Foundation has issued more than $5 million in higher education scholarships. Today, its Four Brother Scholarship program, named after Dwight, Garth, Bob and Laddie, the brothers who grew the individual divisions of Follett Corporation, awards college and trade school scholarships to deserving students at Oak Park River Forest High School and Proviso East, both in the Chicagoland area. The Foundation is expanding its philanthropic endeavors to improve literacy outcomes in communities in need, starting with Native American families.
About Chinle Planting Hope | chinleplantinghope.com
Chinle Planting Hope is a nonprofit organization based in Chinle, Arizona, dedicated to building community, nurturing hope, and supporting families across the Navajo Nation through literacy, health, and education initiatives. Its programs include early childhood literacy efforts, mobile book access, and plans for a permanent community library.
About Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library | imaginationlibrary.com
Since launching in 1995, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library has become the preeminent early childhood book-gifting program in the world. The flagship program of The Dollywood Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, has gifted over 300 million free books in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, and The Republic of Ireland. This is achieved through funding shared by The Dollywood Foundation and Local Community Partners. The Imagination Library mails more than 3 million high-quality, age-appropriate books directly to children’s homes each month. Each child enrolled in the program receives one book per month from birth to age five - at no cost to families. Dolly envisioned creating a lifelong love of reading and inspiring children to Dream More, Learn More, Care More and Be More. The program’s impact has been widely researched, and results demonstrate its positive impact on early childhood development and literacy skills. Penguin Random House is the exclusive publisher of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.