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"I hope I’ll be remembered as somebody that tried to do some good in the world and left, you know, a few good things behind."
Known globally for her extensive contribution to music, entertainment and media, Dolly Parton's musical catalogue and accolades span decades, with a body of work that has cemented her place among the most influential artists in music history.
Queen of Country, industry legend, and cultural icon, Dolly Parton leaves behind a legacy that extends far beyond her contribution to music and entertainment. Her philanthropy and social impact work gave back to communities globally, using her success to create opportunities for others.
A lasting connection to our community
As we reflect on Dolly’s life and the impact she leaves behind, we find ourselves thinking about the places where we have felt a connection to her legacy. For Conexus, Dollywood is one of those places. It has become a particularly meaningful part of our own community of international healthcare professionals over the years, and somewhere we have been fortunate to return to time and again.
Dolly’s vision for Dollywood was to build a place for families, shared experiences and the community she had always remained connected to. She wanted people to experience something of the place she called home, and that spirit has remained part of what makes Dollywood so special.
Each year, Dollywood has been the setting for our community appreciation events in 2022, 2023, and 2024, bringing nurses from the Philippines, Kenya, and beyond together to spend time with one another, share experiences and enjoy the community we have built at Conexus. Over the years, those visits have become an important part of our own story.
Creating opportunities through education
Beyond the Dollywood theme park, Dolly established the Dollywood Foundation with a simple purpose: to inspire the children in her home county to achieve educational success. What began with a focus on children and young people in Sevier County would go on to become some of Dolly’s most far-reaching social impact work.
The Imagination Library is the signature program of the Foundation. Initially providing a free book each month to children under five in Sevier County, the idea was deeply personal to Dolly. Her father, Lee, was unable to read or write, and his experience helped shape her belief in the opportunities that education can create.
Now a global program, the Imagination Library has gifted over 300 million books since its launch. Today, children around the world receive a new book each month through the Imagination Library, helping give them a love of reading from their earliest years.
For us at Conexus, that belief in the power of education is one we share. Over the years, we have proudly supported the Dollywood Foundation by sponsoring children across the U.S. to receive books through the Imagination Library on behalf of our partner facilities.The opportunity to support a program that gives children access to books, and through them, the opportunity to learn, imagine, and achieve more, is a gift that lasts a lifetime. It is a simple idea with a lasting impact, and one that reflects why education remains such an important part of our own social impact work.
A legacy that lives on
What Dolly leaves behind will continue to touch lives for generations to come. It lives in the children who have grown up with a book arriving at their door each month, in the communities she invested in, and in the opportunities created through her generosity.
For us at Conexus, we feel fortunate to have our own memories of Dolly’s legacy through the years we have spent bringing our community together at Dollywood, as well as through the work we have been proud to support through the Dollywood Foundation. In honor of her life and legacy, we have made a donation to the Foundation as a reflection of our gratitude for all she gave to so many, and our commitment to continuing that impact.
Dolly’s legacy reminds us that making a difference does not always have to begin with changing the world. Sometimes, it starts much closer to home, with what we have and what we can give to the people around us. As Dolly herself said:
“If you can't change the whole wide world, change your own little world, and maybe that'll reach out and do some good - that's how I do it.”
Discover more about how Conexus MedStaff supports global communities.
