09/26/2026
In 1988, Dolly Parton saw that the high school dropout rate in her hometown of Sevier County, Tennessee, was around 35% (more than 1 in 3 students leaving before graduating).
Through the newly formed Dollywood Foundation, she launched the Buddy Program. She went to the 7th and 8th graders, told them to pick a buddy, and made a simple promise: If both of you graduate high school, I’ll personally give each of you $500. If one drops out, neither gets paid.
They signed contracts pledging to help each other stay in school. It wasn’t just about the money — it created real accountability between friends.
The result? The dropout rate for those classes fell from about 35% to 6%.
She didn’t form a committee or wait for legislation. She walked in, made a promise, paired kids up, and followed through. That same spirit later grew into the Imagination Library (which has given away hundreds of millions of free books to children) and ongoing scholarships in Sevier County.
Sometimes the most effective solutions are the simplest ones delivered with heart.
What a legend. 💛
