Dolly Parton, the US singer, has won the 2022 ‘Courage and Civility’ award initiated by Jeff Bezos, CEO of Amazon, and Lauren Sanchez, his partner.
With the award, the singer will get a cash prize of $100 million to support charities.
Bezos shared a video from the award ceremony via his Twitter page on Sunday.
In his remark, Bezos described Parton as “incredible” and lauded her philanthropic gestures over the years.
“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!” the billionaire businessman wrote on Twitter.
In a short address, Parton thanked Bezos for the initiative and promised to “do good things with the money” given to her.
“When people are in a position to help, you should help. And I know that I’ve always said, ‘I try to put my money where my heart is,’ and I think you do the same thing,” she said.
Parton is renowned for her philanthropic works. In 1988, she launched Dollywood Foundation aimed at boosting graduation rates in her home county.
In 2020, the 76-year-old was said to have donated $1 million to Vanderbilt University’s Medical Center to help Naji Abumrad, her friend, develop the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine.
