In a little more than two weeks after the wildfires that spread across Dolly Parton’s home area of Sevier County, Tennessee, Parton and the Dollywood Foundation launched the distribution of assistance from the My People Fund. During the four day cash distribution, 884 families received their initial support payments.
It’s a blessing during this holiday season that we are able to help as many families as we have so far,” Parton said. “We know there are more families out there who need our help and we encourage them to be in contact with us before our January distribution.”
The Dollywood Foundation My People Fund provides $1,000 each month to Sevier County families whose homes are uninhabitable or were completely destroyed in the recent Smoky Mountain wildfires. Any family who lost their primary residence (renters and homeowners) due to the wildfires in Sevier County will be eligible.
A pre-application for those affected is available at dollywoodfoundation.org.
As, Dolly said, the response has been overwhelming,” David Dotson, Dollywood Foundation President said. “We will distribute all $9.3 million to the families affected. That will insure all of the money raised will go to where Dolly promised it would go.”
Millions of people watched “Smoky Mountains Rise: A Benefit for the My People Fund” telethon on Tuesday, December 13th on Great American Country, AXS-TV, RFD-TV and The Heartland Network and during several rebroadcasts throughout the last week. As a result, donations continued to roll in and thanks to generous people from coast to coast and Parton’s friends, the total amount raised has climbed to $9.3 million.
The next distribution is January 26th and 27th, 2017 at the LeConte Events Center in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. Anyone who would like to make a tax-deductible contribution to the My People Fund may visit dollywoodfoundation.org.
For a complete list of Dolly’s upcoming tour dates and more information, visit her website and follow her on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
