Dolly Parton has stepped up big time to assist her neighbors in a time of need following hurricane Helene.
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The Country superstar was a large part of a $5 million donation to Mountain Ways Foundation, a nonprofit providing immediate assistance to Hurricane Helene flood victims.
One million dollars of the donation came from the superstar herself, while her many businesses including Dollywood Parks & Resorts, Dolly Parton’s Stampede, and Pirates Voyage Dinner & Show, and Dollywood Foundation pledged an additional $1 million. Additionally, Walmart contributed $4 million alongside Dolly’s donation -- and that’s after a previous $6 million donated by the big box retailer.
The impact of Helene is close to home for Parton, who grew up in the mountains of Tennessee. “I am totally with you because I am part of you,” Parton said during a press conference revealing her donation at a Walmart in Newport, Tennessee. “These are special people here; they’re my people. I feel like all people are my people, but everyone here grew up in the mountains just like I did, so of course, I have a close connection to them.”
She concluded, “I can’t stand to see anyone hurting, so I wanted to do what I could to help after these terrible floods. I hope we can all be a little light in the world for our friends, our neighbors — even strangers — during this dark time they are experiencing.”
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