Dolly Parton has donated $1 million to Vanderbilt University Medical Center for its efforts to research COVID-19, the country music legend announced on social media Wednesday.
>> Coronavirus: Dolly Parton to read bedtime stories to kids in new weekly video series
“My longtime friend Dr. Naji Abumrad, who’s been involved in research at Vanderbilt for many years, informed me that they were making some exciting advancements toward research of the coronavirus for a cure," Parton wrote in an Instagram post. "I am making a donation of $1 million to Vanderbilt towards that research and to encourage people that can afford it to make donations,” she said.
Parton, 74, tweeted the same message on Twitter.
>> Coronavirus checklist: 100-plus disinfectants that may kill coronavirus on surfaces
Parton is also working with her charity, The Imagination Library, to read a children’s book on YouTube every Thursday at 7 p.m. EDT for 10 weeks. The Imagination Library provides children free books by mail every month and the program is available in all 50 states and five countries.
>> Coronavirus symptoms: What you need to know
“Good Night With Dolly” already has 1,587,805 children registered, and 133,899,247 books have been mailed, according to her website.
>> Coronavirus: Know the facts directly from the CDC
Thank you to the first responders, servicemen and servicewomen, and healthcare professionals all around the world ❤️ pic.twitter.com/T8EzhrdC31
— Dolly Parton (@DollyParton) March 31, 2020
>> Coronavirus: Can the government make you stay home if you are sick?
