adminSAN FRANCISCO. – Country music star and philanthropist Dolly Parton has been awarded a $100m (£84,8m) prize by Jeff Bezos to use for charitable causes.
The multi-billionaire founder of Amazon announced the award alongside his partner, Lauren Sanchez.
Ms Sanchez described the country singer as “a woman who gives with her heart and leads with love and compassion in every aspect of her work”.
Parton will be able to donate the cash to any charities of her choice.
The Bezos Courage & Civility Award recognises leaders who “pursue solutions with courage and civility”.
“We can’t wait to see all the good that you’re going to do with this $100 million award,” Ms Sanchez said.
In a video of the ceremony posted online, Parton said “Wow! Did you say $100 million?”
“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,” she added.
The award started in 2021, with prizes going to activist Van Jones and chef and humanitarian Jose Andres, who established World Central Kitchen, which provides food in disaster-stricken areas around the world.
Parton – a singer-songwriter, actress, businesswoman and philanthropist – was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame earlier this month.
She has been a high-profile supporter of charities and founded the Dollywood Foundation, which has given books to children around the world.
Parton has also been a vocal advocate of vaccination against Covid-19.
In 2020 she gave a US$1m donation for coronavirus research to the Vanderbilt University Medical Centre in Nashville, which is one of the trial sites for the Moderna vaccine. – BBC.
Mathew Masinge
Online Reporter