Dolly Parton's Theme Park To Provide Free Tuition To Its Workers

Dollywood, Dolly Parton's theme park in Tennessee, has announced its plan to provide free tuition and books to its employees who wish to pursue further education under select programs.

"The reasons for joining our team keep growing!" the theme park's official account said in a tweet Tuesday. It also shared a link to a page containing information about the initiative.

The program will be made through Dollywood's parent company, Herschend Enterprises, which will launch its GROW U. program on Feb. 24.

Herschend Enterprises, which co-owns Dollywood Parks & Resorts alongside Parton, is the largest privately-owned themed attractions corporation in the U.S.

Aside from Dollywood workers, the program will also be available to employees of other Herschend Enterprises co-owned amusement parks, including Silver Dollar City in Missouri, Adventure Aquarium in New Jersey, Newport Aquarium in Kentucky and Wild Adventures in Georgia.

In total, the program will benefit 11,000 full-time, part-time and seasonal workers of all the 25 attractions under the parent company.

"Herschend's GROW U. is not only a significant and transformational investment in our employee's growth but also our love culture in action," Andrew Wexler, CEO of Herschend Enterprises, said in a statement.

"Whether it's to pursue a new dream or advance their career with us, we care about our employees' personal and professional growth, because we believe that their futures should be grown with love, not loans. Our team members' success is our success — and that's why we're thrilled to make this benefit available to all, regardless of their role in the company and without the burden of debt," he added.

Eugene Naughton, president of Dollywood Parks & Resorts, told CBS News he wants their employees to be the "best possible experience for both our guests and our hosts."

"One of The Dollywood Foundation's key tenets is to 'learn more.' This program is created with that very tenet in mind. We want our hosts to develop themselves through advanced learning to fulfill the foundation's other tenets: care more, dream more, and be more," he explained.

Praises for Parton, who has long been associated with philanthropy, quickly poured in as soon as news about the program broke out.

"She's an angel," Rosie O'Donnell said in response to the announcement, according to the New York Post.

"Dolly, you truly are appreciated," congressional candidate Charles Booker of Kentucky noted in a tweet.