GATLINBURG, Tenn. — Not only did the devastation take place near the icon’s popular Dollywood theme park in Pigeon Forge, but it also claimed the lives of 14 people and injured dozens.
Parton already has teamed up with the Dollywood Co. and the Dollywood Foundation to create the My People Fund that will give $1,000 per month for half a year to the wildfire victims who lost their homes. But that didn’t stop the Sevier County native from going a step further.
To raise even more money, Parton is putting together a three-hour telethon. According to the Tennessean, the Nashville-based telethon is scheduled for Dec. 13, and all proceeds will go to the My People Fund.
“It’s really a work in progress,” Dollywood spokesman Pete Owens told the outlet regarding the upcoming charity event. “We’re working through the logistics now and determining the partners that are going to work on it.”
The My People Fund has raised more than $1 million despite the planning needs for the telethon. If you'd like to donate to the victims of the fire, visit www.dollywoodfoundation.org.