Dolly Parton may soon be as well known for her philanthropy as she is for her music. For decades the legendary musician has given money to countless charities and created the Dollywood Foundation which supports many of her philanthropic efforts including children’s literacy. But when Hurricane Helene ravaged much of the Southeastern United States, the 78 year old country music icon jumped into action and took matters into her own hands.
Parton donated a million dollars to the Mountain Ways Foundation, a nonprofit organization that helps those of the Appalachian Region in times of disaster and crisis. The organization has been focused on rebuilding and support efforts for Eastern Tennessee, which is where she called home. “I look around, and think these are my mountains, these are my valleys. These are my rivers flowing like a stream…These are my people and this is my home,” she said.
Speaking at a Walmart in Newport, Tennessee on Friday, Parton personally pledged a million dollars from her own bank account. The donation will be matched by her companies. The Mountain Ways Foundation works with the areas of the Volunteer State that have been damaged by the flooding caused by the catastrophic storm.
“I think that this is a time for me to step up again, for all of us to step up and do what we can,” Parton said. “I know it’s easy for us to say ‘Oh, things are going to get better when things are still really bad..All we can say is that we are with you. We love you. We hope things get better real soon, and we are going to do our part to try and make that possible.”
The Mountain Ways Foundation is built on the tenets of Appalachian culture: hospitality, perseverance, faith, being neighborly, supporting one another, and possessing the grit and determination to do whatever it takes. Dolly Parton’s generous donation will allow this worthwhile and valuable organization to live up to those ideals through recovery and assistance efforts fueled by that financial commitment.
“I am totally with you because I am part of you,” Parton said. The singer, songwriter, actress, and producer continues to let us all know that she backs up her words with action.