Dolly Parton's charitable fund gives financial aid to 921 people who lost homes in Tennessee wildfires

By Rachel Mcgrath For Dailymail.com

Published: 11:24 EDT, 14 March 2017 | Updated: 22:29 EDT, 14 March 2017

When wildfires raged through Sevier County in East Tennessee in November, hometown girl Dolly Parton promised to help those who lost everything.

The country music star, whose Dollywood theme park narrowly escaped destruction in the fires that ravaged Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, announced she would set up a charitable fund.

Her goal was to be able to provide $1,000 a month for six months to those whose homes were destroyed.

On Tuesday, it was confirmed the 71-year-old's My People Fund has cut checks to 921 people.

Hometown hero: Dolly Parton, 71, has kept a promise to give $1,000-a-month for six months to people who lost their homes in the Sevier County, Tennessee, wildfires last November

Hometown hero: Dolly Parton, 71, has kept a promise to give $1,000-a-month for six months to people who lost their homes in the Sevier County, Tennessee, wildfires last November

Parton had described herself as 'heartbroken' as she watched flames race through the Smoky Mountains communities where she grew up.

Dollywood Foundation President David Dotson revealed that more than 80,000 donations had poured in via the website the nonprofit set up throughout December and January, the Knoxville News Sentinel reported. 

More money was raised thanks to Parton's star-studded December 13 telethon that included performances by Reba McEntire, Kenny Rogers, Hank Williams Jr., Chris Stapleton and Cyndi Lauper. 

Financial aid: The president of her charitable Dollywood Foundation confirmed that the My People Fund that Parton established is cutting checks to 921 people

Financial aid: The president of her charitable Dollywood Foundation confirmed that the My People Fund that Parton established is cutting checks to 921 people

Devastation: The wildfires that ravaged Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, where the country music star's Dollywood theme park is located, killed 14 and destroyed more than 2,500 structures

Devastation: The wildfires that ravaged Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, where the country music star's Dollywood theme park is located, killed 14 and destroyed more than 2,500 structures

Explaining her desire to help her fellow Tennesseans, Parton said: 'We are mountain tough.......You have to be physically tough, you have to be emotionally tough and you have to be strong. People have to scrape their living out of the soil in a lot of ways.'

'That's why it is so important because all of these people, even though they are not blood kin, they really do feel like my people,' she said.

Her famous friends also opened their wallets to help with large donations from Kenny Chesney, Taylor Swift, the Country Music Association and the Academy of Country Music, Billboard reported at the time.

Big fundraiser: On December 13, Parton hosted a telethon to raise money for the fund with the help of performers including Reba McEntire, pictured, Kenny Rogers and Cyndi Lauper

Big fundraiser: On December 13, Parton hosted a telethon to raise money for the fund with the help of performers including Reba McEntire, pictured, Kenny Rogers and Cyndi Lauper

Chipped in: Other famous musicians such as Taylor Swift and Kenny Chesney sent in donations

Chipped in: Other famous musicians such as Taylor Swift and Kenny Chesney sent in donations

Parton has been a generous patron of community and educational programs that benefit those less fortunate and most of her donations remain anonymous.

But in 2006, the Associated Press reported he had given $60,000 a year to disadvantaged Sevier County high school students and created a program that offered $500 to individual students who graduated high school and persuaded a classmate to complete their education as well. 

She has given thousands of dollars to fund a birthing unit at a Pigeon Forge medical center so pregnant women didn't have to drive to Knoxville to deliver their babies. And she has a book program for children to encourage literacy.

Generous: The 71-year-old Tennessee native, pictured at the CMAs in Nashville last year, is a committed philanthropist and has donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to her community

Generous: The 71-year-old Tennessee native, pictured at the CMAs in Nashville last year, is a committed philanthropist and has donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to her community

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The November wildfires killed 14 in the Gatlinburg area and destroyed or damaged thousands of residential and commercial buildings. 

 

  

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