Jeff Bezos gives Dolly Parton $100 million for charity
Dolly Parton has plenty of silver and gold to give away to charity thanks to Jeff Bezos.
The Amazon founder has honored the country singer with his Courage and Civility Award and awarded her with $100 million to be distributed to charities as she sees fit.
"What she's done for kids and literacy and so many other things is just incredible," Bezos said.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Parton founded the Imagination Library, which supplies free books to kids under five; since 1995, it has gifted over 190 million books, according to its website. She also helped fund research that led to Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine and in 2022 donated $1 million to Vanderbilt University Medical Center for studying pediatric infectious diseases, among other charitable efforts. Parton was named one of the 2021 People of the Year by People and was recently inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
"When people are in a position to help, you should help, and I know that I've always said I try to put my money where my heart is," Parton said, adding, "I will do my best to do good things with this money."
Speaking with CNN, Bezos praised Parton as "unifying," explaining he chose her for the award because, "Look at what she's done and how she's led her life. And the way she's done it, these bold things, always with civility and kindness." Bezos also told CNN he intends to give away the majority of his wealth to charity during his lifetime.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Brendan worked as a culture writer at The Week from 2018 to 2023, covering the entertainment industry, including film reviews, television recaps, awards season, the box office, major movie franchises and Hollywood gossip. He has written about film and television for outlets including Bloody Disgusting, Showbiz Cheat Sheet, Heavy and The Celebrity Cafe.
-
The Christmas quiz 2024
From the magazine Test your grasp of current affairs and general knowledge with our quiz
By The Week UK Published
-
People of the year 2024
In the Spotlight Remember the people who hit the headlines this year?
By The Week UK Published
-
Crossword: December 25, 2024
The Week's daily crossword
By The Week Staff Published
-
Honda and Nissan in merger talks
Speed Read The companies are currently Japan's second and third-biggest automakers, respectively
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Taylor Swift wraps up record-shattering Eras tour
Speed Read The pop star finally ended her long-running tour in Vancouver, Canada
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Drake claims illegal boosting, defamation
Speed Read The rapper accused Universal Music of boosting Kendrick Lamar's diss track and said UMG allowed him to be falsely accused of pedophilia
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
'Wicked' and 'Gladiator II' ignite holiday box office
Speed Read The combination of the two movies revitalized a struggling box office
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Jussie Smollet conviction overturned on appeal
Speed Read The Illinois Supreme Court overturned the actor's conviction on charges of staging a racist and homophobic attack against himself in 2019
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Quincy Jones, music icon, is dead at 91
Speed Read The legendary producer is perhaps best known as the architect behind Michael Jackson's 'Thriller'
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
OJ Simpson, star athlete tried for murder, dead at 76
Speed Read The former football hero and murder suspect lost his battle with cancer
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Momofuku's 'Chili Crunch' trademark uproar
Speed Read The company's attempt to own the sole rights has prompted backlash
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published