Dolly Parton Assisting Victims of Great Smoky Mountain Wildfires in Tennessee

Dolly Parton is proving that her heart will always be in Tennessee. The Country music icon has announced “My People Fund“ that will provide monthly help to victims of the wildfires in eastern Tennessee. Parton is a native of Sevier County, where more than 700 structures were damaged or destroyed by a fast-moving wildfire Monday night.

Dolly Parton’s My People Fund is a joint effort by The Dollywood Company and The Dollywood Foundation to provide $1000 each month to Sevier County families who lost their homes.

“I’ve always believed charity begins at home and my home is some place special,” Parton explained. “That’s why I’ve asked my Dollywood Companies—including the Dollywood theme park, and DreamMore Resort; my dinner theater attractions including Dixie Stampede and Lumberjack Adventure; and my Dollywood Foundation—to help me establish the My People Fund.

“We want to provide a hand up to those families who have lost everything in the fires. I know it has been a trying time for my people and this assistance will help get them back on their feet.”

Parton, 70, was born in Sevier County as the fourth of 12 children. Her father was a farmer and construction worker and the family which she has since described as “dirt poor”, lived in a one-room cabin. She went on to become the most honored female country performer of all time and started in the film “9 to 5”. Aside from her Dollywood theme park, her latest project is “Dolly Parton’s Christmas of Many Colors” on NBC.

Anyone who would like to contribute to the My People Fund can visit dollywoodfoundation.org.

For those wishing to send donations via mail to Dolly’s My People Fund, the address is:
Dollywood Foundation
2700 Dollywood Parks Blvd.
Pigeon Forge, TN 37863