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Like many, I was shaken up by the news of Dolly Parton's death.

My relatives in Florida, Jimmy and Ruthie Horton, expressed how the news hit them:

“This can not be happening. We felt stunned at the news. Dolly has always been a remarkable story for those of us related to people from the mountains, the Bakers, who were so instrumental in the growth of each of us. Knowing that their experiences were quite similar to Dolly's made the news of her passing hit us extremely hard. She led an incredible life and was loved, respected, and admired by many for all of her contributions. Our country and world so much needs people like Dolly Parton. We all can learn valuable lessons from her.”

And the lesson I wish to focus on in this article is her generosity, one which really hit me when reading “Fire and Rain” by Michael Vernon Harding. 

Being an environmental scientist, and while working for Geosyntec in early 2017, Mike's expertise was called upon for the wildfires that swept over thousands of acres in the the Great Smoky Mountains and surrounding areas in late November 2016. He was asked to address the steps in remediating the post-fire impact like flooding, debris removal, and erosion control at the Lincoln Memorial University Duncan School of Law in Knoxville, Tennessee. He asked Shawn Casey, a colleague and friend and CEO of Finn Corporation, if he would be willing to go with him, and Shawn quickly agreed. (Mike and Shawn are both well known in the Hope area.)

As they surveyed the damage, they quickly understood the devastation. I asked Mike about the progress at that point. He said, ”There was a lot to accomplish, but I am always impressed how communities proceed onward despite all the physical and emotional destruction.”

Mike assembled his assessments and finalized his presentation while understanding he would be among several speakers and the last. He went on to say, “I was expecting to meet Dolly Parton since she had been asked to be a presenter, but she understandably traveled to Nashville for her manager's funeral. Instead, she provided a taped video message that one of her staff members played for the audience.”

Shawn Casey recalls Dolly stating: “When hearing of the fire, I had just wrapped up a concert in Kansas. At 2 a.m. I called my staff together while emphasizing these are my people, and we have to do something.”

Do something is what they did, even before government agencies could get in full action. They organized shelter, food, and water for the victims of the wildfires, but went far beyond by also giving money to families. There were two television telethons featuring popular artists, including Dolly, resulting in $9 million raised. Dolly's “My People Fund” provided $1,000/month for six months to over 900 families which grew to $5,000 to each home in the final month.

When Mike asked the representative of Dolly how they verified the actual victims of the fire, he simply said, “We don't care to verify. If they ask for help, we give it.” Mike ended that section of the book with the following: “There are still good people on this Earth willing to use their money, influence, and notoriety to help others, and Dolly Parton is one of them. In all the wildfires I have been involved in over the years, I will never forget how she reached out and came to the aid of others.”

Unknown to this former teacher and grandparent until this year, “The Dolly Parton's Imagination Library” was launched in 1995 and started in Dolly's hometown of Sevier County but now covers the entire United States as well as other countries. Over 332.4 million books have been given away. Each book is mailed at no charge to registered children from birth until almost five. There must be a local partner to help, and it appears Indiana has statewide coverage.

I would like to think that's one factor in IREAD scores increasing in our state. There is much educational research on the importance of books being available and accessible at a very young age with parents and grandparents reading to and with children.

I have ordered Dolly's “Coat of Many Colors” book which adapts her song of the same title into a wonderful children's picture book. Like the song, Dolly's book shares her story growing up in poverty while conveying the importance of compassion, understanding, respect, and empathy and stresses we all are of great value, no matter our status. I plan on reading the book with my grandsons and sharing this article about Dolly, an article that only shares a little about her tremendous giving nature.

Dolly thanks for your music, your acting, and for being an extremely thoughtful and generous philanthropist. No one can match your heart and legacy, but all of us can learn from it as we develop on our own hearts and legacies.