Dolly Parton donates $1 million to Hurricane Helene relief efforts

Native to the Appalachian Mountains Dolly Parton said Friday it would donate $1 million to it Hurricane Helene Relief measures.

Parton said the $1 million would go to the Mountain Ways Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing immediate relief to flood victims of Hurricane Helene.

“These are special people here; they are my people” Parton said during an event to announce the donation at a Walmart in Newport, Tennessee. “I feel like all people are my people, but everyone here grew up in the mountains just like me, so of course I have a close connection with them. I can't stand to see anyone suffer, so I wanted to do something. I could help after these terrible floods.”

The country music icon was born in Locust Ridge, Tennessee, to a poor family deep in rural Appalachia – and Parton has often written about her childhood and the region in her songs, including hits like “Smoky Mountain Memories” and “My Tennessee Mountains”. Home.”

She was joined by John Furner, CEO of Walmart US, who said the company, including Sam's Club and the Walmart Foundation, would donate a total of $10 million to hurricane relief efforts in affected states. Parton's affiliates, including Dollywood Parks & Resorts and The Dollywood Foundation, also announced they would match Parton's donation with an additional $1 million to the Mountain Ways Foundation.

At least 225 people were subsequently confirmed dead Helene swept through the southeastand officials expect the death toll to rise as recovery efforts continue. Satellite images showed large areas North Carolina was devastated by the storm. President Biden said Friday that work to rebuild from the damage would cost “billions of dollars.”

Parton said she hopes her donations will inspire others to donate and support the massive recovery effort.

“I hope that we can all be a little light in the world for our friends, our neighbors – even strangers – during this dark time they are living through.”