Dolly Parton Pledges $3M More For Wildfire Recovery

GATLINBURG, TN — This week, Dolly Parton's My People Fund distributed the last of the checks to Sevier County residents who lost their homes in November's devastating wildfires. Friday, Parton announced that those last checks weren't the end of the help.

Parton announced the creation of Mountain Tough — a three-year effort to provide long-term relief for low-income fire victims. She pledged at least $3 million to the organization.

(For more updates on this story and free news alerts for your neighborhood, sign up for your local Middle Tennessee Patch morning newsletter.)

Mountain Tough will start June 1 and will employ case managers who will work with families to determine the best way to use funds, such as providing transportation to work or medicine or health care for fire-related conditions.

“It makes me feel proud that I’ve been able to do something. But I don’t put myself on any kind of pedestal for doing this because it’s the right thing to do. I’m a Smoky Mountain girl, and I’ve been blessed in my life to become a celebrity. And when you’re in a position to help, you should help," Parton said.

The 900 or so My People Fund recipients already received a great surprise. When Parton created the fund, she promised $1,000 per month for six months for people who lost their homes, but the fundraising was so successful, the final check was instead $5,000, bringing the total for each family to $10,000.

Image via Flickr user Linda Stanley, used under Creative Commons