Amazon founder, Jeff Bezos and his girlfriend, Lauren Sanchez has given legendary singer, Dolly Parton the sum of $100 million for being the latest recipient of the Bezos Courage and Civility Award.
Sanchez, who announced the award via her Instagram page on Friday, said the $100 million is to be directed toward charities that the recipient sees fit.
“Jeff [Bezos] and I are so proud to share that we have a new Bezos Courage and Civility Award winner — a woman who gives with her heart and leads with love and compassion in every aspect of her work.
“We can’t wait to see all the good that you’re going to do with this $100 million award, @DollyParton,” Sanchez posted on Instagram alongside a video of their speech before awarding the grant to the legendary singer and longtime philanthropist.
Bezos also tweeted, “We’ve just announced a new Courage and Civility award recipient — @DollyParton, who leads with her heart, and will put this $100 million award to great use helping so many people. She joins prior awardees, @VanJones68 and @Chefjoseandres. Congrats, Dolly!”
Receiving the award on Sunday, November 13, Parton publicly thanked Bezos and Sanchez for the award which recognizes leaders who “pursue solutions with courage and civility”.
She wrote, “I try to put my money where my heart is. I will do my best to do good things with this money. Thank you @JeffBezos #LaurenSanchez”
“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,” Parton added.
The 76-year-old music icon has long been known as a philanthropist. Her Dollywood Foundation, aimed at boosting graduation rates in her home county, was launched in 1988, according to the foundation’s website.
Parton’s Imagination Library, a book gifting program that mails free, high-quality books to children from birth to age five, no matter their family’s income, was then launched in 1995, the website said.
In 2020, Parton donated $1 million to Vanderbilt University’s Medical Center to help her friend, Dr. Naji Abumrad, develop the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine. Parton went on to receive her vaccine from Abumrad himself in a video in which she encouraged others to get vaccinated as well.
Parton in 2016 hosted “Smoky Mountains Rise: A Benefits for the My People Fund,” a live telethon that raised money for people whose homes were destroyed by wildfires in the Great Smoky Mountains.
KanyiDaily recalls that Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote said his meeting with American billionaire, Bill Gates, changed him into a different person as he will like to do more for humanity by giving out a chunk of his wealth like the billionaire philanthropist.
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