Dolly Parton Encourages Another Research Endeavor At Vanderbilt With $1 Million

Country music legend Dolly Parton, known for her prowess in the music industry, has also had a hand in several philanthropic endeavors involving medical research and literacy initiatives.

Parton is also a charitable donor to Vanderbilt University Medical Center, and she once assisted with funding for the Moderna vaccine in 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The award-winning icon recently made another generous $1 million donations to the institution for pediatric infectious disease research, which was announced on Wednesday, June 16.

According to PEOPLE, Parton's recent funding would help progress Vanderbilt's "leading studies on the cause of disease, understanding resistance to antibiotics, and preventing and treating infections in children with cancer."

Following her contribution, she expressed in a press release, "No child should ever have to suffer. I'm willing to do my part to try and keep as many of them as I can healthy and safe as possible."

It is worth knowing that her niece Hannah Dennison was successfully treated as a child for leukemia at Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt Pediatric Cancer Program.

Regarding the veteran musician's donation, the president and CEO of the institution and dean of the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Dr. Jeff Balser, released a statement acknowledging the endowment.

Balser stated, "Dolly's previous support to infectious disease research, and also our pediatric cancer program has already saved countless lives."

He added, "This new gift will bolster our defenses against future threats to the safety of this region and society as a whole."

Speaking of the blonde-haired singer-songwriter's previous support in research, she made an earlier announcement about her $1 million contributions to Vanderbilt that helped fund the Moderna vaccine research.

At the time, she mentioned that Dr. Naji Abumrad, her "longtime" friend at the institution, informed her about the "exciting advancements" the scientists were making toward finding a coronavirus cure.

Parton then declared that she would be donating to the research and urged those who could afford donations to do the same.

Her humanitarian endeavors reach beyond her devotion to medical research as she has also made efforts to foster literacy and protect Mother Nature.

In April, she spoke with National Geographic about her hometown Tennessee's Smoky Mountains, pointing out the area's unique vegetation, wildlife, and the significant nature of shielding it from climate change impacts.

The "Hello, I'm Dolly" star stressed that people should be more attentive and take better care of God's creations. She also noted that said people were "mistreating Mother Nature" and "freely messing up."

Last October, her Dollywood Foundation raised $700,000 for flood victims of middle Tennessee following the tragic rain damage that affected them.

As for Parton's literacy program, her Imagination Library project, inspired by her father's illiteracy and founded in 1995, has currently donated nearly 170 million books to kids below five.

She revealed to the outlet last December that she was "kind of addicted to the feeling of giving" and knowing she was doing something good for another person.

During the same period, she was featured in the 'People of the Year' cover story and admitted to being "a little bit skeptical" about the inclusion due to the pressure involved.

Nonetheless, she was glad to stand for "enough stuff" where she was not the worst person in the world.

The Blast previously detailed Parton's interaction with National Geographic about climate change and protecting the environment, including her native Great Smoky Mountains.

Her hometown, commonly known as the 'Smokies,' houses over a thousand "varieties of flowering plants and about a hundred species of tree." It is also the States most biodiverse national park.

The Smokies' essence has significantly influenced the Grammy winner's life and career, which she acknowledged in her music piece, "My Tennessee Mountain Home."

The Billboard hit became an official state song not too long ago, and the achievement summarized Parton's influence on the region, including her love for the wildlife territory.

She believed her hometown had a heart of its own, from how the water flowed to how it sounded and felt when one got into it.

The 76-year-old admitted that she did not admire the region just because she lived there but mainly because she believed that God created there for people to relish.