Dolly Parton’s Most Influential Moments Over the Years


Emma McIntyre/Getty Images

Dolly Parton He has to work longer than the 9 to 5 to keep his music fresh and interesting charitable works.

In 2022, Parton was honored with the Carnegie Medal of Philanthropy for her many years of service and expressed her “pride” to receive the recognition. His philanthropic efforts include the creation of The Dollywood Foundation and funding for vaccine research after the coronavirus pandemic in 2020.

“What a privilege it is to be here. I’m honored and proud to be among these famous people and do all these good things to help the world, as they say,” Parton said in October 2022 when to receive a medal. “I just give from the bottom of my heart. I didn’t know what I was going to do or why I was going to do it. I just see a need and if I can fill it then I will. “

Dolly Parton's Best Red Carpet Looks of All Time


Related: Dolly Parton’s Glitziest Red Carpet Fashion Moments: Photos

Glitter! Lightning! Little clothes! Dolly Parton is as much a fashion icon as she is a music legend. The “Because I’m a Woman” singer has never been shy about making a statement on the red carpet and beyond. From fun games to hugs – she has killed it all. Although (…)

The Grammy winner he continued: “If I can do my small part in this world then that is all I ask for in this world.” I’m very proud of the Imagination library, so I love it. I just hope that I can continue to do good things.”

Scroll down to see some of Parton’s most useful pieces:

1988

Parton founded her non-profit organization The Dollywood Foundation in April 1988 in Sevierville, Tennessee. The goal was to increase the number of high school graduates in the area and reduce the number of school dropouts.

The “Jolene” singer also created the Buddy Program, which gave $500 to every seventh and eighth grade student in the area who graduated from high school. The initiative was successful as the dropout rate went from 35 percent to 6 percent, according to foundation website.

Dolly Parton's Best Moments
International Photos/Robert Scott/Getty Images

1991

As part of her successful theme park, Dollywood, Parton opened it Eagle Mountain Sanctuary. The facility is 30,000 square feet and is managed by the American Eagle Foundations shelter to support the protection of bald eagles.

1995

The singer developed The Dollywood Foundation and Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. The program gifts children under the age of five with a book every month to help improve literacy and learning in all parts of the country – and around the world. In 2018, Parton reached a milestone when Imagination Library shipped its 100 millionth book.

Dolly Parton's Best Moments
Ron Davis/Getty Images

2000

The foundation started five $15,000 scholarships, called Dolly Parton Scholarships, to Sevier County high school seniors to help students continue their education at an accredited university. “This course is for students who have a dream they want to pursue and who can clearly articulate their plans and commitment to achieve their dreams,” the website says.

Dolly Parton Is Capturing Valentine's Day With A Rare Photo Of Husband Carl Dean


Related: Dolly Parton’s Sweetest Moments with Husband Carl Thomas Dean

Dolly Parton and her husband, Carl Dean, have been married for more than 50 years, but they are rarely seen together – and that’s how they like it. The country icon first met his future wife when he moved to Nashville in 1964 to start his music career. He tied the knot within two (…)

2007

Parton also gave back to her hometown by helping to raise $500,000 for Sevier County Hospital with a benefit concert. Dollywood and Parton’s Dixie Stampede dinner theater each pledged $250,000, totaling $1 million in fundraising efforts. The money was used to open the LeConte Medical Center, a hospital and cancer center, in 2010.

Dolly Parton's Best Moments
Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic

2016

Following the wildfires in Tennessee that swept through the Great Smoky Mountains, Parton created the My People Fund under her Dollywood Foundation umbrella. The fund distributed $1,000 per month for six months to families who lost their main home. The foundation revealed in 2017 that more than $12 million was raised and distributed to those in need this past year.

2017

After releasing his children’s album, I believe in youPatron donated $1 million to Vanderbilt University Medical Center for Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital. The donation was made in honor of Parton’s niece who was treated for leukemia at the hospital.

Dolly Parton's Best Moments
Steve Granitz/WireImage

2020

At the beginning of 2020, Parton was one of the most popular celebrities making a spatula to Williams-Sonoma’s charitable donation of kitchenware. Parton’s design helped raise money for the company’s annual Cook for a Cause.

The same year, the actress made headlines to donate money to the research of the coronavirus vaccine following the global pandemic. Parton delivered $1 million to fund Moderna’s vaccine research, which is said to be 94.5 percent effective against the virus.

“I’m happy that whatever I do can help somebody,” Parton said Today at that time. “When I donate to the COVID fund, I just want it to be successful. Obviously, it is. Let’s just hope we get a cure soon.”

2021

When Tennessee’s Humphreys County faced unprecedented flooding and damage, Parton stepped up and raised $700,000 to help the community recover. Parton’s Dollywood and Pigeon Forge dinner shows will feature a portion of ticket sales over two dates in October 2021 to benefit the United Way of Humphreys County.

Parton’s ex-girlfriend Loretta Lynn was in charge of choosing the charity. “After the Sevier County fires in 2016, Loretta was one of the first to give whatever she could,” Parton said in a statement. “It made me so happy that Loretta – and so many people – were willing to give in any way they could. This was one small way I could support Loretta’s people for all they did to help my people.”

Returning Stars


Related: Returning Stars

Putting their money where their mouth is! In addition to walking the red carpet and living a glamorous life, these celebrities, including Angelina Jolie, Lauren Conrad, and Matt Damon, are working hard to make the world a better place. Read their charity stories!

Earlier that year, Parton revealed that she used some money from Whitney Houston cover of his song “I’ll Always Love You” to return to the Black community in Nashville. “It was mostly black families and people who lived there,” Parton said in an appearance in August 2021. Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohenshare what they sold in another office in the area. “It was all shopping malls. And I thought, ‘This is the best place to be, considering it was the Whitney.’”

He continued: “I just thought, ‘This was great. I will be down here with his people, who are also my people.’ And so I just love the fact that I spent money on a challenge. And I think, ‘This is the house that Whitney built.’

Dolly Parton's Best Moments
Jason Kempin/Getty Images

2022

Parton announced in February 2022 that Dollywood – through its partner Herschend Enterprises – will begin paying 100 percent of tuition, fees and books for any employee who attends college to further their education.

After four months, a “Here You Come Again” singer donated $1 million to Vanderbilt University Medical Center to support pediatric infectious disease research.

2024

Parton herself promised a million to the Mountain Ways Foundation, which supported East Tennessee communities affected by Hurricane Helene. Her donations would be matched by her companies, including the Dollywood Foundation and Dollywood Parks and Resorts. The East Tennessee native shared that they will be making the donation in partnership with Walmart.




2025-01-19 22:15:09
title_words_as_hashtags

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

  • Untitled post 6931
  • Untitled post 6935
  • Untitled post 6941
  • Untitled post 6943
  • Untitled post 6917
  • Untitled post 6931
  • Untitled post 6935
  • Untitled post 6941