Dolly Parton donates 1 million to Vanderbilt University Medical Centers

Dolly Parton donates $1 million to Vanderbilt University Medical Center’s pediatric infectious disease research

Dolly Parton has done another good deed.

The country star has donated $1 million to pediatric infectious disease research at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, and it’s a big cause: According to the center, the gift will help doctors in their research understand “how viruses and bacteria cause disease. Understanding and preventing antibiotic resistance, preventing and treating infection, diagnosing and treating infection in children with cancer, and research to determine the impact of infection in children around the world.”

“I love all kids,” Parton told Vanderbilt. “No child should ever have to suffer and I stand ready to do my part to keep as many of them as healthy and safe as possible.”

If any of this sounds familiar, that’s because the music legend previously donated $1 million of proceeds from her successful career to the same institution, and that money helped fund Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine, which 2020 was administered to the masses.

After that contribution paid off, Parton told Today, “I’m just glad that whatever I do can help someone else. When I donated the money to the COVID fund, I just wanted it to do well, and obviously it is. Let’s just hope we find a cure soon.”

The “Jolene” singer/songwriter has made it a habit to donate a portion of her estimated $350 million fortune to causes close to her heart, including health, education and equality.

“I’m kind of addicted to the feeling of giving,” she told People in December 2021. “Knowing that I’m doing something good for someone else.”

However, Parton then noted that she feels uncomfortable about being recognized for her contributions. In fact, she almost didn’t make it to that interview with the magazine, where she was hailed as one of the Person of the Year.

“I’m not all that,” she said. “I’m glad I stand for enough stuff where I’m not the worst person in the world.”

Parton explained that she doesn’t want to be worshiped – something she sees in some celebrities – because of what she reads in her Bible. But she thinks it’s “great” when she can make a mark.