Dolly Parton announced on Friday that she will contribute $1 million to support Hurricane Helene relief efforts. The funds will be directed to the Mountain Ways Foundation, a nonprofit organization focused on aiding victims impacted by the floods caused by the hurricane.
During a donation announcement event at a Walmart in Newport, Tennessee, Parton expressed her deep connection to the region. “These are special people here; they’re my people,” she stated. “I can’t stand to see anyone hurting, so I wanted to do what I could to help after these terrible floods.”
Parton, a native of Locust Ridge, Tennessee, often reflects on her upbringing and the Appalachian region in her music, with songs like “Smoky Mountain Memories” and “My Tennessee Mountain Home.”
Walmart U.S. CEO John Furner accompanied Parton at the event, revealing that Walmart, along with Sam’s Club and the Walmart Foundation, will contribute $10 million to hurricane relief efforts across the affected areas. Moreover, Parton’s associated businesses, including Dollywood Parks & Resorts and The Dollywood Foundation, will also donate an additional $1 million to the Mountain Ways Foundation.
The storm, which severely affected the Southeast, has already led to at least 225 confirmed fatalities, and officials warn that this number may rise as recovery operations progress. Satellite images depict extensive devastation in parts of North Carolina, and President Biden estimated that the rebuilding efforts will require “billions of dollars.”
Parton expressed her hope that her contributions would motivate others to support recovery efforts. “I hope we can all be a little bit of light in the world for our friends, our neighbors — even strangers — during this dark time they are experiencing,” she remarked.