Dolly Parton donates $1M for Hurricane Helene relief effort

Hurricane Helene, classified as a Category 4 hurricane, wreaked havoc in the southeastern states of the USA last week, hitting areas like Georgia, Florida, and North Carolina, and leaving behind widespread destruction. At least 225 people have died as a result of the catastrophe, and hundreds of thousands of homes remain without power. Infrastructure damage and flash floods have also impacted many other cities.

The singer, actress, and philanthropist Dolly Parton announced her donation at a press conference in her hometown of Tennessee, saying, "I wanted to announce that from myself personally, just from my own bank account, I'm donating a million dollars today". She expressed, "God has been good to me and so has the public, and I feel that if there's anything I can do to give back in any way I can I'm always willing to do that. I want to feel like I'm doing my part."

The creator of the hit "Jolene" also emphasized that Dollywood, the company she manages, including her amusement park of the same name, intends to match this amount. The funds will be directed to the Mountain Ways Foundation, which supports relief efforts and rebuilding in eastern Tennessee, western North Carolina, and the broader Appalachian region.

"We're starting out with a good little hunk," added Dolly Parton, highlighting the need for much more resources and time to restore the disaster-affected areas to normalcy. "Who knew in our little part of the country here – where I was born and raised right down the road – that we would have this kind of devastation."

The artist reflected on her hometown of Locust Ridge, Tennessee, and the extensive damage caused by Hurricane Helene. "These mountain-coloured rainbows, these are my people, and this is my home…," she said with emotion. "I just want you to know that I am totally with you, 'cause I am part of you. I love you."

Dolly also expressed support to those affected by the hurricane: "I know it's easy for us to say, 'Oh, things are going to get better' when things are still really bad, when times are tough, but all we can say is that we are with you, that we love you, and that we hope that things get better real soon."

This donation is not Parton's first act of philanthropy. In 2016, her Dollywood Foundation committed to paying $1,000 monthly to families affected by wildfires in Sevier County, Tennessee. In 2021, she donated part of the ticket proceeds from Dollywood to help flood victims in Tennessee, and a year earlier, she contributed $1 million towards developing a COVID-19 vaccine.

Parton is one of the most iconic figures in country music, but she is also a versatile artist whose career includes acting achievements. Her feature film debut was in "9 to 5," where she starred alongside Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin. Another well-known film she appeared in is "Steel Magnolias." She has received three Golden Globe nominations and two Emmy nominations. She is 78 years old.