Dolly Parton's philanthropy: books

Dolly Parton has been honored as one of the entertainment world's most generous philanthropists, receiving the Carnegie Medal of Philanthropy in 2022. Her charitable work, conducted through the Dollywood Foundation established in 1988, spans children's literacy, medical research, and disaster relief.

Imagination Library: A Global Book Gift

Inspired by her father Robert Lee Parton, who could not read or write, Dolly Parton launched the Imagination Library in 1995. The program sends a free book each month to children under five. It began in her home county of Sevier County, Tennessee, and has since expanded to the US, Canada, the UK, Ireland, and Australia. Over 332.4 million books have been distributed.

Parton has said her father was prouder of the library than of her music career. For many children, it is their first owned book. "They get this little book with their little name on it in the mail, and they feel special," Parton once said. British author Selina Brown, whose book My Rice is Best was distributed, told the BBC it was emotional to see 14,000 copies packed for posting, noting its black protagonist aids representation.

In the UK, Eileen Driver, chair of the Stokesley Imagination Library, told BBC Radio Tees that Parton's vision for sharing stories was remarkable. SNP councillor Lee Mills, a self-described superfan, worked to bring the program to Dundee and aims to deliver it to every child in Scotland.

Medical Research and Vaccine Support

Parton has made multiple seven-figure donations to medical causes. In 2020, she donated $1 million to the Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville to support Covid-19 research. This funding contributed to an early-stage trial of the Moderna vaccine, which was found to offer nearly 95% protection against severe Covid-19.

She publicly encouraged vaccination, even rewriting her song "Jolene" with the lyrics "vaccine, vaccine, vaccine, vaccine, I'm begging of you, please don't hesitate." She showed herself getting a shot, stating, "I'm old enough to get it and I'm smart enough to get it."

Her medical philanthropy includes a 2007 benefit concert that raised $1 million for a new hospital and cancer center in Sevier County, featuring a Dolly Parton Center for Women's Services. In 2017, she donated $1 million to Nashville's Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital after her niece was treated for leukemia there. A few years later, she gave another $1 million to the same hospital for paediatric infectious disease research. Earlier this year, the East Tennessee Children's Hospital announced it would be renamed the Dolly Parton Children's Hospital following her partnership.

Disaster Relief and Broader Aid

The Dollywood Foundation has consistently supported Tennessee communities in crisis. After deadly wildfires in Sevier County in 2016, Parton held a telethon featuring stars like Kenny Rogers and Reba McEntire, raising over $13 million. She also pledged $1,000 per month for six months to approximately 900 families who lost homes. In 2021, she helped raise $700,000 for Middle Tennessee residents affected by flooding.

The foundation also runs a scholarships program, offering $15,000 each to five high school seniors "who have a dream they wish to pursue." Furthermore, until recently, her Dollywood theme park housed the world's largest sanctuary for non-releasable bald eagles, managed by the American Eagle Foundation. The bald eagle was removed from the endangered species list in 2007.

In 2022, the foundation extended its educational support to adults, announcing it would cover 100% of tuition and books for any Dollywood employee seeking further education. Parton has described herself as "addicted to the feeling of giving." Her team, announcing her passing, asked fans to donate to the Imagination Library instead of sending flowers to continue her legacy.