Dolly grew up in a tiny one-room cabin in rural East Tennessee as one of 12 children in a family that had very little. After becoming one of America\u2019s most successful and recognizable musicians, she chose to use much of that success to give back to the community and people she came from.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Her partnership with Dollywood helped turn the park into one of East Tennessee\u2019s largest employers while also playing an important role in the region\u2019s tourism economy. Through the Dollywood Foundation, she has also supported scholarships and other programs aimed at helping local children and students build brighter futures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In 1995, Dolly founded the Imagination Library, which originally provided free books by mail to children in her home county. What started as a small local effort eventually grew into an international program that has delivered hundreds of millions of books to children around the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When devastating wildfires struck her home region in 2016, Dolly responded through her My People Fund, which provided millions of dollars directly to families who had been affected. Over the years, she has also contributed millions toward medical care and research, including a $1 million donation to Vanderbilt University Medical Center to support COVID-19 research.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dolly Parton became incredibly successful, but she never lost sight of where she came from. Instead, she took the success she built and turned it into opportunities, hope, and support for others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That generosity \u2014 along with her talent, humility, and connection to ordinary people \u2014 is a big part of why so many Americans love Dolly Parton so much.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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