I manage Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library in Cincinnati—the No. 1 lesson she taught me about success

When I heard that Dolly Parton had died on Tuesday, my first thought wasn't about her music. It was about a child opening a book.For the past four years, I've had the privilege of managing Parton's Imagination Library in Cincinnati. The book-gifting program, part of the nonprofit Dollywood Foundation, mails free, high-quality books to children across the country and around the world once a month from birth to age 5. I work for Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, which partners with Imagination Library to bring the program to kids throughout Hamilton County. As the program manager, my role is to connect with families and community partners, promote enrollment, educate on the importance of early childhood literacy, and ultimately make sure children have access to the free books.Parton's vision has put millions of books into children's hands. And though I didn't work directly with the icon day-to-day, I've had a front-row seat to witness the impact of her philanthropy in Cincinnati.I've seen the excitement on a child's face when they receive a book with their name on it. I've heard parents talk about how the monthly book gives their kids something to look forward to. I've w...