"find out who you are and do it on purpose."
The Dollies behind the wigs!
Who are the Dollies? Founded in 2020 by a small group of Dolly enthusiasts, membership in the Krewe of Dolly is open to all. As a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt charitable organization, the Krewe of Dolly seeks to support literacy and provide free books to every child from birth to age five by bringing Dolly's Imagination Library to New Orleans.
What is the Imagination Library? Dolly’s Imagination Library is the flagship program of The Dollywood Foundation dedicated to promoting literacy and inspiring a love of reading by gifting books free of charge to registered children from birth to age 5. The Foundation partners with local nonprofits to build and maintain a database of registered children within a zip code to provide hand-selected, age-appropriate, high-quality books each month. As the local program partner, the Krewe of Dolly raises the funds needed to ship the books that the Imagination Library sources at low cost. Your support can provide a book every month to a child, delivered right to their doorstep!
Board of Directors
Clockwise from top left, Jill Dunchick, Kari Ayala, Alexis Culotta, Heather Brutz, Annie Wentz, Carolyn Babauta, Sarah Post, Elizabeth Selasky. Photo by Tammie Quintana.
- Kari Ayala*⁺ currently serves as the President of the Krewe of Dolly. She is the owner/broker of New Orleans Property Services, a boutique brokerage specializing in all things real estate. Kari's former career was in charter school education, having helped start the International School of Louisiana, worked at Esperanza Charter School and the International High School of New Orleans. She loves to travel, ski, golf, hike, eat oysters and have fun with friends and family.
- Carolyn Babauta is an award-winning sound engineer for television. Having served as float lieutenant and merch maven for various krewes, it’s fitting that she is Merch, Costumes and Throws Chair. Carolyn is passionate about crafting, good food, good books, live music, traveling the world and taking her daughter to all the Disney parks.
- Heather Brutz* currently serves as Vice President. Heather is a Civil Engineer turned stay at home mom. When she's not volunteering at her kids school or running them around to various extracurricular activities, she loves to spend her free time on our nonprofit and get her creative juices flowing with crafting and costuming. Heather is always ready to share costume tips and learn more!
- Alexis Culotta⁺ currently serves as Parade Chair. When not organizing line-up on the route or double-checking dance moves (thanks to her unrequited dreams of becoming a professional ballerina when younger), she enjoys her "day job" as a professor of art history. She'll take any opportunity to travel to new places and adores her fabulous family, which includes a mini dachshund who conveniently also loves to costume as Doggie Parton.
- Jill Dunchick⁺, with 25+ years of experience in leadership training and coaching and 15+ years as a Brennan Practitioner, served as the Executive Director of New School Development, devised a nationally recognized leadership training program, and received national recognition through an EPIC award and Oprah’s Angel Network for her role as a Principal. With Master’s Degrees from the University of Pennsylvania and the University of New Orleans, certifications as a massage therapist, and a Brennan Integrative Practitioner, Jill strengthens her client’s self-awareness, giving them skills to improve their higher sense perception, ensuring cohesion between their mind, body, and emotions, and supporting them in leading and living with deep authenticity. Along with leading the Literacy Committee in the Krewe of Dolly, Jill has been an active member of New Orleans Bulldog rescue, has completed a yoga series in all 50 states, and is a proud mama of a 20-year-old daughter who is a sophomore at Syracuse University!
- Sarah Post*⁺ currently serves as Director of Social Media. She is a speech-language pathologist who started her own business in 2019 serving children from various schools with dyslexia, autism spectrum disorder, and ADHD. She also works to raise money for children with brain cancer yearly on the only all women's team at Hogs for the Cause.
- Elizabeth Selasky*, a former goalkeeper at Jacksonville State University, brings her passion for the city of New Orleans to the Krewe of Dolly as Treasurer. With her extensive background in mortgage lending and marketing, Elizabeth plays a pivotal role in the Krewe's fundraising for the Imagination Library. She combines her love for New Orleans with a commitment to honoring Dolly's legacy through various charitable activities and festive gatherings.
- Annie Wentz*⁺ is the founding president of the Krewe of Dolly and currently serves as the Board Secretary. As an educator with over 20 years both in and out of the classroom, Annie believes in the greatness of every child and the potential unleashed through early experiences with books in the home. She currently designs curriculum for PhD Science, a national K-8 program from Great Minds. In addition to the Krewe of Dolly, Annie also serves on the board of New Orleans Science and Math Charter School, an open-admission public charter school that prepares all students for college admissions and successful careers. When not costuming, Annie enjoys yoga, running, gardening, sewing, and spending time with her two almost-adult boys!
⁺Educator