Music legend Dolly Parton has announced a personal donation of $1 million to aid recovery efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. Speaking at a press conference in her home state of Tennessee, the 78-year-old star shared that the donation will come “from my own bank account,” and her business ventures, including Dollywood, will match the contribution.
Hurricane Helene, the deadliest mainland storm since Hurricane Katrina in 2005, has claimed at least 225 lives across several southeastern states, including North Carolina, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. The storm, which made landfall as a Category 4 hurricane in late September, caused widespread destruction, leaving half a million homes without power and leading to flash floods that have devastated communities.
“This is my home,” Parton said at the event in Newport, Tennessee. “God has been good to me, and so has the public. If there’s anything I can do to give back, I’m always willing. I want to feel like I’m doing my part.”
In addition to her personal donation, Parton’s Dollywood theme park and related businesses will contribute another $1 million to the Mountain Ways Foundation, a nonprofit working to help those affected by the flooding. Walmart also announced it would increase its recovery fund contribution to $10 million, with CEO John Furner praising Parton as “a true American legend” for her charitable efforts.
Parton, visibly moved, spoke about the devastation the hurricane has caused and offered words of hope to victims: “We are with you, we love you, and we hope things get better real soon.”
(With inputs from BBC)
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