Is it? Dolly PartonAre you a secret philanthropist Fans believe so after she revealed that she was involved with a variety of charities, but it wasn’t made public.
Some of her recent charitable actions include paying for the band uniforms of several Tennessee high schools over the years; purchasing a strip mall in Nashville using the royalties she earned from Whitney Houston’s version of “I Will Always Love You” to support the surrounding Black neighborhood in the late singer’s honor; and donating $1 million to research dedicated to creating the Moderna vaccine.
During an interview with The Associated Press, prior to receiving the Carnegie Medal of Philanthropy on Thursday night, Parton said she doesn’t do any of it for recognition.
“I don’t do it for attention,” she said. “But look! I’m getting a lot of attention by doing it.”
Dolly Parton received an award for her charitable work on Thursday. However, she insists that she does it not for attention.
(Jason Kempin/Getty Images on Netflix)
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While she isn’t in it for the attention, Parton believes she received too much of it. Parton provides college scholarships through the Dollywood Foundation. She also helps victims of natural disasters and eradicates childhood illiteracy.Â
Parton does all this but believes she is getting more attention than some others. She hopes others will be inspired by her good deeds and help others.
In her acceptance speech for the Carnegie Medal of Philanthropy, Parton admitted she doesn’t have a strategy for her donations, choosing to donate when she sees a need she feels she can fix.
“I just give from the heart,” she stated. “I never know what I’m going to do or why I’m gonna do it. I simply see a need. If I can fulfill it, then I will.”
Parton is particularly passionate about inspiring children to love reading through her books. Imagination Library initiative. On request, children below 5 years old receive a free book each month. This averages to around 2,000,000 books per month.
Parton started the initiative for a very personal reason — seeing how illiteracy negatively impacted someone she loved.
“This started because my dad couldn’t read and write. I realized how crippling it could be,” she explained. “My father was very intelligent. I wonder often what he could do if he was able to read and compose. That is my inspiration.
Parton founded the Imagination Library to help her father learn how to read and write.
(Rick Kern/FilmMagic)
This program is expanding. Last month, California partnered up with Imagination Library for the provision of the program to millions of children aged 5 and under.
She stated, “That is a huge deal.” “That’s a lot of children. And we’re so honored and proud to have all the communities that make that happen because I get a lot of glory for the work a whole lot of people are doing.”
Parton explains that she only accepts attention from the world about her philanthropy because it brings more attention to the Imagination Library. Parton says that she is proud to “proud” to be the voice doing all she can to get more books in the hands of children.
Eric Isaacs, President of Carnegie Institution for Science, and one of the members on the medal selection committee, recognized Parton as a “tremendous instance” of someone who recognizes the importance of giving back to their community.
“Everyone is familiar with her music,” he stated. “They may know Dollywood more for entertainment. But now they’re going to know her for her philanthropy, which I’m not sure they have before.”
While Parton has made her philanthropic work a top priority, earlier this year she released a novel with James Patterson, “Run, Rose, Run,” and filmed a Christmas movie with Willie Nelson, Miley Cyrus and Jimmy Fallon for NBC titled “Dolly Parton’s Mountain Magic Christmas.”
Parton has filmed a Christmas movie with Miley Cyrus, Willie Nelson and Jimmy Fallon called “Dolly Parton’s Mountain Magic Christmas.”
(Getty Images)
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Eminem will also be inducted into Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Nov. 5. Lionel RichiePat Benatar, and many others. Parton initially declined the offer. However, she has since changed her mind, saying that she is now “ready to rock” as well as that she has written a new song for the Los Angeles ceremony.
Parton is already doing so much, but she’s ready to do even more. Parton implemented the Care More initiative in her Dollywood Parks and Resorts. This program allows employees to take days off and volunteer with a non-profit of choice.
“I think it’s important for everyone to do their share to help their fellow man,” she said. “This world is so insane. I don’t think we even know what we’re doing to each other and to this world.”
Parton believes that people will realize that when they help others, it not only helps them but can help them more.
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Parton believes that helping other people is what we should be doing as humans and doesn’t get why people allow other things to get in our way.
(Nathan Congleton/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images
“That’s what we should do as human beings,” she said. “I have never understood why religion is necessary,” she said. PoliticsThings like these can hinder our ability to be good people. I think it’s important from that standpoint just to feel like you’re doing your part, doing something decent and good and right.”
This story was contributed by the Associated Press.
