Dolly Parton loved her Tennessee county so much that her foundation cut its dropout rate to 6%

Country music icon Dolly Parton devoted her life to uplifting the often-overlooked region of Tennessee's Sevier County, where she was born and raised in a cabin without electricity or running water. Despite her worldwide fame, she is remembered as Tennessee's favorite daughter by her neighbors. Dolly's legacy in the area is marked by two major initiatives that she spearheaded.

First, the Dollywood Foundation was established in the early 1990s to combat the high school dropout rate in Sevier County, which had been around 30%. The Buddy Program, a key component of the foundation, paired students with mentors who would receive $500 towards college expenses upon graduation. This program significantly reduced the dropout rate to just 6%, transforming the lives of countless students.

Second, Dolly's Imagination Library, an international initiative that she started, aimed to instill a love for reading in children. The program has distributed over 330 million books to children in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Australia, providing countless young readers with their first literary experiences.

Dolly's impact extended beyond these two initiatives. When a devastating wildfire struck the Great Smoky Mountains in 2016, killing 14 people and causing $2 billion in damage, Dolly directed her foundation to provide funds and scholarships to displaced families and students. Her generosity and fundraising efforts were instrumental in the region's recovery, drawing praise from local officials and community members alike.

Through her work, Dolly Parton shattered negative stereotypes associated with Appalachian communities, inspiring people to embrace the region's unique beauty and culture.