Photo: Jean_Nelson/Depositphotos
Dolly Parton is an undisputed legend for her contributions to music.
However, there is another side to the country singer that more and more people are just now discovering.
Her donation of $1 million towardvaccine researchduring the pandemic shed light on her charitable efforts.
Photo: Jean_Nelson/Depositphotos
In reality, that donation is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to Parton’s philanthropy.
Parton has long been a philanthropist, but she does so with little publicity or fanfare.
In March 2022, Twitter userMichelle B. Youngstarted athreadchampioning some of Parton’s charitable contributions.
Aerial view of Pigeon Forge and Sevierville, Tennessee. (Photo:[email protected]/Depositphotos)
Some of the causes she supports, likeBlack Lives Matter,are well known.
This alone is amazing, but shes done so much more over the years.
Country singer Dolly Parton is a legend in the music industry.
Aerial view of Pigeon Forge and Sevierville, Tennessee.
30+ years ago I was in high school marching band in East Tennessee.
Mountain area, much poverty.
Paid for by Dolly Parton.
That woman is a national treasure.
Incentivizing kids to finish high school.
So, she startedThe Buddy Program, which targeted students in 7th and 8th grade.
Parton met personally with the students to explain the program.
It was very simple: the students needed to pair up.
The program was a rousing success and soon the dropout rate plummeted to under 6%.
Three million people visit the theme park annually, making it the state’s biggest tourist attraction.
And, importantly, employees can apply for funding from their first day on the job.
Through the My People Fund, about 900 families received $1,000 a month for 6 months.
In total, $12.5 million from the foundation went to people in the county impacted by the fire.
But not everyone realizes that the song was writtenand originally performedby Parton.
So what did she do with all of the money?
And thought, This is the perfect place for me to be, considering it was Whitney.
I just thought, This was great.
Im just going to be down here with her people who are my people as well.
The bird of prey actually features in many of her songs, including 1991’sEagle When She Flies.
And her love for the bird goes far beyond music.
Currently, the sanctuary is the largest gathering of non-releasable bald eagles in the world.
Parton oncenoted, Back when we started it, bald eagles were beginning to be extinct.
Weve helped to get it back to where they arent so scarce anymore.
In 2003, she was given a Partnership Award from the U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service for her efforts in saving the bald eagle.
