Thought For The Day – Friday 4th September 2026
Philanthropy
Saturday the 5th of September is World Charity Day.
Thanks to all of you, your families, the staff, and Bishop’s Stortford Rotary Club, Interact raised over £10,000 for charities last year.
There was further outstanding charitable giving last academic year with Year 9 (when students were in Year 8) and in the Sixth Form. The inspirational P.T.F.A. and P.S.A. give an immense amount of time, and raise outstanding monies, for T.B.S.H.S..
Charity is also about raising awareness, giving resources, making time.
Interact are currently collecting for Bishop’s Stortford Food Bank’s Harvest Appeal once again. Details are above. Please bring any items to Room C05. No nuts please.
Charity is connected to philanthropy.
The word “philanthropy” is derived from the ancient Greek words “philos”, meaning “loving”, and “anthropos”, meaning “human”. Therefore, philanthropy means to love humanity. A philanthropist gives to, and loves, others.
Philanthropy was in the news last week as tributes were paid to singer, songwriter, and actor Dolly Parton after she passed away from this life aged 80. Dolly Parton was described as a philanthropist.
Dolly Parton knew what it was like to be “without” materially. She described her upbringing, materially, as “dirt poor”. Dolly was one of twelve children being brought up in one room. Dolly’s father could not read or write. Dolly’s parents worked very, very hard and their love was invaluable and priceless. “You don’t have to have money to be rich. You can be rich in love, patience, kindness, and understanding”, wisely said Dolly Parton. Dolly’s background, and life, was spiritually rich and wealthy.
As a musician, particularly in the genre of country music, Dolly Parton’s legacy was, and is, prodigious. Dolly Parton sold 100 million records globally. She wrote over 3000 songs and released 49 albums. Her music permeates society and transcends boundaries.
As a person, Dolly Parton also changed the world, raising and donating $124, 330, 000 for charity. Dolly Parton gave a million dollars to fund vaccine research in the Covid-19 global pandemic. She always supported health, environmental, and well-being causes and charities.
Tuesday the 8th of September will be World Literacy Day. Through her global literacy charity, called “Imagination Library”, Dolly Parton gave 304, 539, 509 books to pre-school children. Dolly Parton, who herself could never have children of her own, owing to endometriosis and a partial hysterectomy operation, was most proud of the initiative.
In our often far too divided society and world, Dolly Parton, a Christian, was a unifying figure. She was an advocate for the black community and the LGBTQ+ community. As a woman leader, she was a ground-breaking inspiration. In tribute to Dolly Parton’s passing from this life, the President of the United States of America ordered all flags in the United States to be flown at half-mast. On Tuesday the 25th of August, the day of Dolly Parton’s passing, The Empire State Building in New York City was illuminated pink at 9:25 p.m., in tribute to Dolly Parton’s song, and, film “Nine to Five”.
Dolly Parton, one of whose most famous songs was “I Will Always Love You”, was married to Carl Dean, who himself preferred to remain quietly in the background, for fifty-nine years. Carl passed away from this life in March last year. Hopefully, they are now reunited in Heaven.
