NEWPORT, USA — Country music legend and East Tennessee native Dolly Parton announced a $1 million donation on Friday, October 4, 2024 to the Mountain Ways Foundation, a nonprofit providing immediate assistance to victims of Hurricane Helene’s devastating floods.
Parton’s contribution was matched by her East Tennessee businesses, including Dollywood Parks & Resorts, Dolly Parton’s Stampede, Pirates Voyage Dinner & Show, and the Dollywood Foundation, bringing the total donation to $2 million.
Speaking at the event held at a Walmart in Newport, Tennessee, Parton expressed her deep connection to the region, saying, “These are my mountains, these are my valleys… These are my people and this is my home.”
She emphasised the importance of stepping up to help the community during such challenging times.
“I really think that this is a time for me to step up again. For all of us to step up and do what we can,” the country music legend said.
The event also saw Walmart U.S. President and CEO John Furner announce a $10 million donation from Walmart, Sam’s Club, and the Walmart Foundation to support hurricane relief efforts across the affected states.
A portion of these funds will be directed to the East Tennessee Foundation to further aid the region’s recovery.
Dollywood, in partnership with Coca-Cola, has already delivered a semi-truck full of water to Cocke County and has provided 60,000 reusable masks, 30,000 disposable protective garments, and 2.5 million disposable masks to support cleanup efforts.
Additionally, Dollywood will serve as a donation drop-off location for essential supplies needed for flood recovery.
Reflecting on the resilience of the East Tennessee community, Eugene Naughton, president of the Dollywood Company, noted, “The lessons we learned from the Smoky Mountain wildfire—those of resilience, determination, and love for others—led us to reach out to our neighbors to determine how we could help following the recent flooding.”
Wrapping up the event, Parton expressed her empathy for those affected, offering words of hope.
“We are with you, we love you… We hope that things get better real soon and we’re going to do our part to try to make that possible,” she said.
Parton’s longstanding dedication to philanthropy is well-known in the region. In 2016, following the Sevier County wildfires, her My People Fund raised over $9 million to help families who lost their homes.
In 2021, she contributed a portion of Dollywood ticket sales to support victims of flooding in Middle Tennessee.
Parton’s efforts, along with those of other local celebrities like Morgan Wallen, who also donated $500,000 through his foundation, are helping East Tennessee begin its recovery from the widespread destruction caused by Hurricane Helene.
