PIGEON FORGE, Tenn. – Dolly Parton’s The Dollywood Foundation announced Wednesday it would be giving $1,000 per month for six months to families who lost everything in the wildfire.
Parton issued a statement on the foundation’s website saying she was starting the “My People Fund” to help provide a hand up to families affected by the fire.
As you may know by now, there have been terrible wildfires in the Great Smoky Mountains, the same mountains where I grew up and where my people call home.
I have always believed that charity begins at home. 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. To aid in their recovery effort, the Dollywood Foundation will provide $1,000 a month to all of those families who lost their homes in the fires for six months so that they can get back on their feet.
The foundation said more information will be forthcoming on Friday.
The announcement comes after officials said over 700 buildings were damaged or destroyed by the wildfire after flames buried areas of Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge Monday night.
Seven people have died, and some families are struggling to find their loved ones.