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NEW YORK — Dolly Parton scoffed at the idea that she was some kind of secret philanthropist.
Of course, social media sleuths did piece together this week that the country superstar has been quietly paying for band uniforms at many Tennessee high schools for years. Yes, it did take her decades to reveal that she used songwriting royalties from Whitney Houston’s version of “I’ll Always Love You” to buy a strip mall in Nashville to support surrounding black communities. Oh, and it turns out that Parton donated $1 million to research to help develop a Moderna vaccine for COVID-19.
“I don’t do it to get attention,” she told The Associated Press in an interview Thursday night, shortly before she was awarded the Carnegie Medal of Philanthropy at Gotham Hall in New York City. “But look! I got a lot of attention by doing this.”
In fact, Parton believes that her philanthropic work has received too much attention—from promoting child literacy to supporting those affected by natural disasters, to providing numerous college scholarships through her Dollywood Foundation.
“I probably get more attention than others who do more than me,” Parton said, adding that she hopes the attention will inspire more people to help others.
In her Carnegie Medal of Philanthropy speech, Parton said she had no real strategy for giving.
“I just give from the heart,” she said. “I never knew what I was going to do or why. I just saw a need, and if I could fill it, then I would.”
One need that Parton does focus on filling is developing a love of reading in children. Her Imagination Library initiative gives away one free book per month to children under the age of 5 that parents request. Currently, Parton distributes approximately 2 million free books per month.
“It actually started because my dad couldn’t read and write, and I saw how serious that could be,” she said. “My dad was a very smart guy. I often wondered what he could do if he could read and write. So that was the inspiration.”
The program continues to expand. And last month, California Partnership Partner with Imagination Library to provide this program to millions of children under the age of 5 across the state.
“It’s a big deal,” she said. “That’s a lot of kids. We’re so honored and proud to have all the communities that made it happen, because I’m so proud of the work that so many people have done.”
Parton said she would accept the attention because it would advance the cause. “I’m proud to be the voice of it, doing what I can to get as many books into the hands of as many children as possible,” she said.
Eric Isaacs, director of the Carnegie Institution for Science and a member of the medal selection committee, said Parton was an “outstanding example” of someone who understood the importance of philanthropy.
“Everyone knows her music,” he said. “They probably know Dollywood more broadly for entertainment. But now they’ll know her for her philanthropy, and I’m not sure they’ve had it before.”
If Parton doesn’t make philanthropy a priority in her life, it can be difficult to balance it with all of her other pursuits.
She released her bestselling novel “Run, Rose, Run,” co-authored with James Patterson, in March. She shot the holiday movie “Dolly Parton’s Mountain Magic Christmas” for NBC with Willie Nelson, Miley Cyrus and Jimmy Fallon. She’ll be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on Nov. 5 along with Eminem, Lionel Richie and Pat Benatar — an honor she initially rejected but then embraced.
“I’m ready to rock,” she said, adding that she had written a new song, especially for that ceremony in Los Angeles.
But Parton is also poised to expand her charity work. This year, she launched the Care More initiative at her Dollywood Parks and Resorts, giving employees a day to volunteer with a nonprofit of their choice.
“I think everyone should do their part to help their fellow citizens,” she said. “The world is crazy. I don’t think we even know what we’ve done to each other and to the world.”
Parton said she hopes a day of service will make people realize that “when you help someone, it helps them, but it helps you more.”
“That’s what we should be doing as humans,” she said. “I’ve never quite understood why we have to let religion and politics and that sort of thing get in the way of being good people. I think from that perspective, it’s important to feel like you’re doing your part and doing something decent, good and the right thing.”
The AP’s coverage of philanthropy and nonprofits is supported through The Associated Press’ partnership with American Dialogue and funded by the Eli Lilly Endowment Company. The Associated Press is solely responsible for this content.
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