The multi-billionaire founder of Amazon alongside his partner has awarded $100 million to Rebecca Dolly Parton. Rebecca Dolly Parton is an American singer-songwriter, actress, Philanthropist, and businesswoman, known primarily for her work in country music.
Bezos’s partner, Lauren Sanchez, described Parton as “one who pursues solutions with courage and civility, a woman who gives with her heart and leads with love and compassion in every aspect of her work”.
Ms. Sanchez said that she can’t wait to see all the good that Dolly was going to do with the $100 million award.
“Wow! Did you say a $100 million dollars, I think people who are in a position to help should put their money where their heart is. I will do my best to do good things with this money”
Dolly
Dolly has been a high-profile supporter of charities and founded the Dollywood Foundation, which has given books to children around the world, where, she has been recognized by The Bezos Courage and Civility Award.
The Country Music legend received this award for all her work in giving back to different communities, including her own. Also, she’s given scholarships and donations during her career and has provided books each month to enroll preschool children at no cost to their families.
The singer-songwriter was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Los Angeles earlier this month. She opened her speech with a joke “I’m a rock star now!” before explaining how grateful she was to accept the award. She has also been a vocal advocate of vaccination against Covid-19.
Dolly ‘ Honored and Proud’ to help fight covid-19
Furthermore, Parton has made numerous high-profile donations in the past few years, donating $1 million to Vanderbilt University’s Medical Center in Nashville in 2020 for COVID-19 research efforts. It was partly used to fund Moderna’s Covid-19 vaccine.
“I just felt so proud to have been part of that little seed money that will hopefully grow into something great and help heal this world. I’m a very proud girl today to know I had anything at all to do with something that’s going to help us through this crazy pandemic”
Dolly
In 1988, Dolly established the Dollywood Foundation, and eventually The Imagination Library, a program that helps children across the world access books.
Among her philanthropic efforts in her home state of Tennessee, Parton also created the Dolly Parton Scholarship, which provides $15,000 to recipients towards a college education.
An award of $100 million each was given to CNN activist Van Jones and chef and humanitarian Jose Andreas, who established World Central Kitchen, which provides food in disaster-stricken areas around the world.
Bezos, the founder and former head of Amazon.com, said at a news conference at the time of the grant had no strings attached.
“They can give it all to their own charity, or they can share the wealth. It is up to them”
Bezos
