Dollywood announces ‘Care More Initiative’ to celebrate Dolly Parton’s birthday
To celebrate Dolly Parton’s birthday today, Jan. 19, Dollywood officials have announced the creation of the “Care More Initiative” in honor of her lifelong legacy of philanthropy.
Photo via Dollywood
As part of the program, Dollywood Parks & Resorts employees are encouraged to serve at the nonprofit of their choice to recognize Parton for the ways she contributes to others each day. The day of service, which can take place at any nonprofit, will become an annual tradition for Dollywood employees. Park officials hope that people around the world will be inspired by this and Parton’s own gestures of service and “will themselves choose a nonprofit they can serve as well.”
Hosts at Dollywood theme park, Dollywood’s Splash Country, Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort and Spa, and Dollywood’s Smoky Mountain Cabins who take part in the Care More Initiative will receive a day off with pay in order to participate and fulfill their nonprofit service.
Dolly is a dreamer and because of that she is an amazing person to work with. It’s virtually impossible to describe her in one word, but I think if you asked people around the world, one of the most frequent answers you would hear is ‘giving.’ You would hear hundreds of different answers — talented, inspiring, loving, creative, caring — but I think giving is the one of which I think she would be the most proud.
This initiative is our way to give back to her; it is our way to thank her for continuing to inspire people to think outside of themselves and to look for how they can be of service to others. We know our hosts are inspired by her every single day, but we can hope others outside of our Dollywood family take the time to find how they can help in their own communities.
Eugene Naughton, president of Dollywood
To learn more, visit Dollywood.com.
