Dolly Parton's philanthropy was based on 'her belief in the goodness of people'
Her charity has mailed free books to children in five countries and reached 330 million books, underscoring her lasting focus on literacy and aid.
- On Tuesday, humanitarian and singer-songwriter Dolly Parton died at age 80, leaving a legacy of philanthropy spanning disaster relief, literacy initiatives, and pediatric health care.
- The fourth of 12 children from an Appalachian family, Parton founded the Imagination Library inspired by her father's limited literacy; kids across the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland and Australia have received more than 330 million books since.
- Stacia West, co-founder of the University of Pennsylvania's Center for Guaranteed Income Research, called Parton's approach "magical," noting she provided families $1,000 per month through the My People Fund and donated $1 million to Appalachian relief after Hurricane Helene in 2024.
- Beyond literacy work, Parton donated $1 million to Vanderbilt University's Medical Center for COVID-19 vaccine development and funded college scholarships for students from the Great Smoky Mountains region and the Dolly Parton Children's Hospital.
- Parton's family requested donations to the Imagination Library in lieu of flowers, reflecting Parton's belief that the initiative "meant as much, if not more to me, than nearly anything that I've ever done. Of course, I'll always be a singer-songwriter.
59 Articles
59 Articles
Dolly Parton's philanthropy based on 'her belief in the goodness of people'
Dolly Parton's death is shining a new light on the country music icon's philanthropy. The Library of Congress has called Parton a “titan of children’s literacy” for the millions of free books provided monthly through her Imagination Library.
The Toronto Star
Dolly Parton’s philanthropy was based on ‘her belief in the goodness of people’
NEW YORK (AP) — Just weeks after Hurricane Helene devastated the American South in 2024, Dolly Parton stood on a stage in her iconic blonde wig, with a song on
Associated Press News
Dolly Parton's philanthropy was based on 'her belief in the goodness of people'
Dolly Parton's death is shining a new light on the country music icon's philanthropy. The Library of Congress has called Parton a “titan of children’s literacy” for the millions of free books provided monthly through her Imagination Library.
Just a few weeks after Hurricane Helene devastated the south of the United States in 2024, Dolly Parton stood on stage with her iconic blonde wig and a song on her lips. She promised the community of her native Tennessee, hit by floods, to the rhythm of her classic “Jolene,” that “we are all here to repair these broken hearts.”
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