In a World Full of Elons Be a Dolly! 

Over the last few weeks, I’ve been trying to put into words how I feel about Dolly Parton. As someone who has a singular parasocial relationship, Dolly, I couldn’t figure out why the death of a stranger hit me so hard. Why everytime I heard one of her songs I’d burst into tears as if I lost someone close to me. 

Dolly’s death brought along with it a mourning of a world that her generation of women were fighting to create for future generations. We are living in a world where, hatred, othering and separation seems to be taking over and the voices that once were able to build the bridges between opposite view points are leaving this mortal plane. 

Whether it was her quiet outspokenness of gender inequality or sexual harassment of women in the workplace, her generosity, her support and care for traditionally marginalized communities, her humble heart building the imagination library or her could’ve been a billionaire but decided to share her material and immaterial wealth with us all. Dolly taught us that no one is a stranger and we are all servants of a higher power, making us not only equal but also in service to one another. 

In honor of her today, we will be making donations to various organizations who are designed to advance or improve the lives of our fellow human beings. Much like Dolly, our companies are designed with giving and community in mind and today we are talking about it. Over the years, we have found many organizations where the majority of donations go to the cause (not the CEOs) so we are sharing them with you for when you’re ready or able to donate. 

So crank up your favorite Dolly hit and celebrate the big haired, songwriting feminist icon in every way you can today.

Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library : Giving free books to children from birth until they start school to encourage reading and reduce illiteracy rate. 

Photo Credit: Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library

NAACP: The United States’ largest civil rights organization dedicated to advancing political, educational, social and economic equality for Black people in the United States. 

Photo Credit: The Library of Congress

La Rue Tourne : A team of volunteers dedicate their time to meeting the unhoused around Paris to share a coffee, sandwich and most importantly a conversation, reminding us about humanity and connection. 

Photo Credit: La Rue Tourne

Indigenous Environmental Network : Working to protect Mother Earth through indigenous activism, education and grants to younger generations to do the work so desperately needed. 

Photo Credit: Indigenous Environmental Network

Women of the World : Designed to create a global alliance focused on building an equal and inclusive future for women, girls and non-binary people. Empower local women to support their local community’s needs. 

Photo Credit: Women of the World Foundation

Medecins sans Frontiere (Doctors without Boarders) : An international humanitarian medical organization that delivers emergency aid to people affected by armed conflict, epidemics, natural disasters, and exclusion from healthcare.

Photo Credit: Médecins Sans Frontières