Appalachia native Dolly Parton said Friday she will donate $1 million for Hurricane Helene relief efforts.
Parton said the $1 million will go to the Mountain Ways Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing immediate assistance to Hurricane Helene flood victims.
"These are special people here; they're my people," Parton said during an event announcing the donation at a Walmart in Newport, Tennessee.
I can't stand to see anyone hurting, so I wanted to do what I could to help after these terrible floods.".
She was joined by Walmart U.S. CEO John Furner, who said the company, including Sam's Club and the Walmart Foundation, would donate a total of $10 million to hurricane relief efforts across the affected states.
At least 225 people have been confirmed dead after Helene swept through the Southeast, and officials say they expect the death toll to rise as recovery efforts continue.
Parton said she hopes her donations will inspire others to donate and assist in the massive recovery efforts. »