Country music icon Dolly Parton has a long history of good works, not the least of which was donating $1 million to help speed the research and development of Moderna's Covid-19 vaccine.
The latest angelic act associated with the singer's name? Starting February 24, Dollywood will pay for employees at Dollywood can have their college tuition funded by their employer.
The company that operates the Tennessee theme park will cover 100% of higher education fees, tuition, and book costs for all seasonal, part-time, and full-time employees, according to the Washington Post. Workers are eligible for the benefit as soon as they start their jobs. Diploma, degree, and certificate programs can be pursued at one of 30 learning partners.
Herschend Family Entertainment, which operates Dollywood, plans to spend $1 billion on its GROW U program over the next five years.
Free tuition will be covered by the company's parent organization, Herschend Enterprises, and will also be available to some 11,000 employees at 25 different Herschend properties, including Silver Dollar City in Branson, Missouri; Kentucky Kingdom in Louisville; Stone Mountain Park in Georgia; Adventure Aquarium in Camden, New Jersey; and Pink Adventure Tours in Tennessee, Arizona, and Nevada.
"When our hosts feel appreciated and are given opportunities like this, they feel cared for and they can pass that feeling on to their guests,” Dollywood Co. spokesperson Wes Ramey told the Washington Post.
Amen to that!
I'd say a vacation at Dollywood or any other Herschend property will be bursting with goodwill this spring and summer.
Beyond the high employee morale, though, travelers choosing to visit these attractions can be assured that their hard-earned dollars are going to support the improvement of the people who work there.
