Amazon founder Jeff Bezos has awarded country music legend Dolly Parton $100m to spend on charity of her choice.
The money was given as part of Bezos’ annual Courage and Civility Award.
The 9 to 5 singer was given the award to honour her contribution to “kids, literacy and so many other things”.
“Jeff [Bezos] and I are so proud to share that we have a new Bezos Courage and Civility Award winner,” Bezos’ partner Lauren Sanchez wrote in a caption beside a video posted on Instagram.
“A woman who gives with her heart and leads with love and compassion in every aspect of her work,” she said.
“We can’t wait to see all the good that you’re going to do with this $100 million award,” she wrote.
In the video Bezos and Sanchez can be seen giving Parton her award.
“The award recognises leaders who aim high, find solutions and who always do it with civility,” Sanchez said, explaining the concept behind the award.
“The woman you’re about to meet embodies these ideals so thoroughly. She gives with her heart – what she’s done for kids, literacy and so many other things is just incredible,” said Bezos before announcing Parton as the winner.
Parton gave $1m towards vaccination research at the Vanderbilt University Medical Center during the pandemic. She also has a scholarship programme which awards $15,000 to recipients towards their college studies.
Bezos, the founder of Amazon.com. and the fourth-richest person in the world, said he plans to give away the bulk of his fortune during his lifetime.
Bezos will devote the money to fighting climate change and supporting people who can unify humanity in the face of deep social and political divisions, he told CNN, the first time the billionaire has committed to such a pledge.
Bezos is worth $123.9 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, a fortune that has declined almost $70 billion this year, but has surged in the past decade as his e-commerce giant surged past rivals.
