A timeline of the country superstar's biggest philanthropic efforts.
Dolly Parton photographed on July 6, 2020 in Nashville.
Miller Mobley
Dolly Parton was more than a country icon. She was also one of the entertainment world’s most prolific philanthropists, using her success to support causes ranging from childhood literacy and education to healthcare, disaster relief and more.
Following her death at age 80 on Tuesday (Aug. 25), Parton’s charitable legacy remains as impactful as her music. From the launch of the Dollywood Foundation in 1988 to the creation of her Imagination Library in 1995, she spent decades giving back to communities and causes close to her heart. By 2025, the Imagination Library alone gifted more than 300 million books to children around the world, providing free, age-appropriate books to children from birth to age five.
