Announcements about the Moderna vaccine honored Dolly Parton for her $1 million donation to Vanderbilt Medical Center. Country-singer star and philanthropist, Parton demonstrates her activism against COVID-19’s spreading. during a time of fear and uncertainty, she plays a vital role in journeying back to life as we knew it.
Dolly’s History in Philanthropy
Philanthropy is certainly not new to Parton. Back in 1995 she funded the Imagination Library, a program that sends free books to children globally. demonstrating its success, the program has been honored and rewarded on several occasions.
After the 2016 Gatlinburg fires, Dolly again exhibited her philanthropic dedication, pledging $1,000 a month to each homeless family. She professed that her companies “want to provide a hand up to all those families that have lost everything in the fires…” (NbcNews)
COVID-19 Continues, but Moderna Offers Hope
On Wednesday, the U.S. reported 14 million coronavirus cases, setting three records: highest number of daily deaths, highest number of new infections, and highest number of hospitalizations since coronavirus’s onset. To top it off, the country has hospitalized more people than ever before.
Moderna presents the world with a sliver of optimism. In a 30,000-person trial, eleven people receiving vaccine doses developed symptoms, while 185 people in the placebo group did develop symptoms. With an efficacy of 94.1%, this vaccine could have remarkable results. In fact, Moderna hopes to provide the U.S. with twenty million vaccine doses by the end of the year.
Dolly Parton Gives Back
Dolly Parton initially had initially wanted to commemorate her friend and surgery professor, Dr. Naji Abumrad. A longtime philanthropist and adamant activist, Parton was quick to support the compelling medical advancements surrounding vaccines.
“Without a doubt in my mind, her funding made the research toward the vaccine go 10 times faster than it would be without it,”
Dr. Naji Abumrad, USA Today
Dolly Parton’s efforts warrant recognition, as her donation has majorly contributed to the vaccine. The New England Journal of Medicine cites the Dolly Parton COVID-19 Research Fund and credits it as a supporter. In addition, Parton’s donation is helping fund a convalescent plasma study and research around antibody therapies. These explorations are crucial to those facing COVID-19 infections.
“Her gift provided support for a pilot convalescent plasma study that one of our researchers was able to successfully complete…Funds from Dolly’s gift are also supporting very promising research into monoclonal antibodies that act as a temporary vaccine for coronavirus.”
John Howser, BBC News
“I just felt so proud to have been part of that little seed money that will hopefully grow into something great and help to heal this world…I’m a very proud girl today to know I had anything at all to do with something that’s going to help us through this crazy pandemic.”
Dolly Parton, BBC
Featured Image from Timothy Wildey on Flickr.
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