On November 28, a human-set wildfire blew into the town of Gatlinburg, Tennessee in the Smoky Mountains. It raged for days, destroying over 2,400 buildings and homes and killing 14 people. The devastation in Gatlinburg and the surrounding Pigeon Forge/Sevier County was immense, causing evacuations and terrible loss. The once-booming tourist town is now a pile of ashes.
Here comes Dolly Parton, the country music legend and Sevier County native, who loves East Tennessee more than any place in the world. Dolly, born into an impoverished family of 12 children in Sevierville, Tennessee, knows what it is like to live without. For that reason, she has made it a mission to help those in need.
Despite the damage to Dolly Parton's Pigeon Forge amusement park, Dollywood, and surrounding properties, she focused her attention on what truly mattered: the people. With that in mind, Dolly set up the "My People Fund." According to the fund's webpage, "the My People Fund provides $1,000 each month for up to six months to Sevier County families who lost their homes in the wildfires." Since the setting up of this fund, Parton has pushed relief efforts wholeheartedly, encouraging many other celebrities to contribute, with Hank Williams Jr., Cyndi Lauper, Alabama, Don McLean, Ronnie Dunn, Jamey Johnson, and Lauren Alaina all performing for her live telethon show, "Smoky Mountains Rise," and others answering phones during the telethon, including Paula Dean and her sons Bobby and Jamie, RaeLynn, Dailey & Vincent, Mark & Digger from "Moonshiners," T.G. Sheppard, Jason Crabb, Larry Gatlin, comedian Henry Cho, and Tim Rushlow.
This, however, is not the first philanthropic effort Parton has made in her career. The Dolly Parton Imagination Library mails one book per month to almost 850,000 children from the time of their birth until they enter kindergarten, promoting literacy for all. The Dollywood Foundation focuses on bringing jobs and tax revenue to the previously impoverished regions of East Tennessee. Dolly has also worked in the past to raise money for HIV/AIDS-related charities, as well as established a bald eagle sanctuary at Dollywood.
Dolly Parton, despite being called cheap, fake, a bimbo, and a dumb blonde, has shrugged off all negativity and focused her attention on being a force for good in the world. She is truly a role model for anyone looking to make a difference in the world.
Thank you, Dolly Parton, for that big heart of yours.
