Dolly Parton’s Other Legacy: A Fortune Given Away, Dollar by Dollar
New York Times · LC · trust 20/100
The country star supported early childhood literacy, disaster relief, the development of the Covid-19 vaccine and more.
Listen · 7:44 min Share full article 2 Dolly Parton spoke at the Library of Congress during a 2018 celebration of her organization, the Imagination Library, and its 100 millionth book donation. Credit... Andrew Harnik/Associated Press By David Gelles
Dolly Parton, the country music luminary, who died this week at 80 , offered $1,000 per month to families who had lost their homes in Sevier County. The money kept flowing for months, and the songwriter and star behind hits including “My Tennessee Mountain Home” ultimately sent $12.5 million back to the county where she was born.
Ms. Parton’s support for the fire victims was just one node in a constellation of charitable activities that distinguished her as one of pop culture’s most prolific philanthropists. With cash gifts, benefit concerts and telethons, Parton supported causes that included early childhood literacy, wildlife conservation and the development of the Covid-19 vaccine.
She became so effective at distributing her own money that the ultrawealthy asked her to distribute theirs. In 2022, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and his future wife, Lauren Sanchez, gave Ms. Parton $100 million to distribute to causes of her choosing. And this summer, Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce gave Ms. Parton’s Imagination Library $2 million to fund the distribution of children’s books.
“Her philanthropy was so much more significant and serious than what you see from other celebrities,” said Stacy Palmer, chief executive of the Chronicle of Philanthropy. “As a woman, she was a standout giver, and she gave to the kinds of causes that a lot of rich people don’t give to, ones that were based on her life experience.”
Ms. Parton started her own charitable organization, the Dollywood Foundation, in 1988, the same year that “Trio,” her album with Emmylou Harris and Linda Ronstadt, won album of the year at the Academy of Country Music Awards.
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