Parton again gives $1M to research
Dolly Parton is donating $1 million to pediatric infectious disease research at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, the organization announced on Wednesday.
The new gift is one of several Parton has made to the center over the years, including a $1 million gift in April 2020 for COVID19 vaccine research. That gift helped Vanderbilt researchers test an array of drugs aimed at reducing the life-threatening symptoms associated with COVID-19, the center said in a release. Researchers are also looking at entirely new therapies to both treat COVID-19 and prevent infection.
Parton’s new gift will support a variety of ongoing research at the center, including understanding how viruses and bacteria cause disease, understanding and preventing antibiotic resistance, preventing and treating infections, diagnosing and treating infections in children with cancer, and gauging the impact of childhood infections throughout the world, according to the release.
“Dolly’s previous support to infectious disease research, and also our pediatric cancer program, has already saved countless lives,” said Dr. Jeff Balser, president and CEO of Vanderbilt University Medical Center and dean of the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. “This new gift will bolster our defenses against future threats to the safety of this region and society as a whole.”
Parton said she supports the work because she loves children. “No child should ever have to suffer,” Parton said in a release. “I’m willing to do my part to try and keep as many of them as I can as healthy and safe as possible.”
Members of Queen, Police, Rush to honor Hawkins:
The twin concerts for
Foo Fighters’ late drummer Taylor Hawkins will include members of Queen, the Police, Rush, Kiss, the Pretenders and Red Hot Chili Peppers. The shows will take place Sept. 3 in London and
Sept. 27 in Inglewood, California. Both will benefit charities chosen by the Hawkins family.
The London concert will have Liam Gallagher, Joan Jett, Chrissie Hynde, Supergrass and Dave Chappelle. The Inglewood concert will have Miley Cyrus, Gene Simmons, Alanis Morissette, Nikki Sixx and Luke Spiller. Both will feature Stewart Copeland, Geddy Lee, Brian May, Mark Ronson, Roger Taylor, Chris Chaney, Wolfgang Van Halen, Alex Lifeson, Hawkins’ cover band Chevy Metal and the surviving members of Foo Fighters.
Hawkins, 50, died March 25 during a South American tour.
CBS News’ Schlesinger retiring:
Longtime CBS News correspondent Richard Schlesinger, a fixture on the newsmagazine “48 Hours,” is retiring after nearly four decades at the network. The New Yorkbased Schlesinger, 67, who also reported for “CBS Evening News” and “CBS Sunday Morning,” joined the network in 1984 in its Miami bureau and moved north after three years.
Actor Bill Cobbs is 88. Singer Lamont Dozier is 81. Singer Eddie Levert is 80. Actor Joan Van Ark is 79. Actor Geoff Pierson is 73. Actor Laurie Metcalf is
67. Actor Arnold Vosloo is
60. Actor John Cho is 50. Actor China Shavers is 45. Actor Sibel Kekilli is 42. Actor Olivia Hack is 39. Actor Ali Stroker is 35.