Dolly Parton Applauds Taylor Swift for the Singer’s Donation to Her Smoky Mountain Fund

By Rea Gabriel 14 Dec, 2016 12:08 EST

Dolly Parton thanked pop singer Taylor Swift for donating$100,000 to Parton's Smoky Mountains Fire Fund. The Academy of Country Music also donated $100, 000 for the cause. An East Tennessee native, Kenny Chesney, also donated $250, 000.

"The Academy and ACM Lifting Lives are honored to contribute in a meaningful way to Dolly's heroic efforts to help the people of her hometown - and when Taylor heard what we were planning, she offered to match our gift, which gives it that much more impact," stated Executive Vice President and Managing Director of the Academy Tiffany Moon in a statement.

Moon expressed appreciation for Swift as the singer continues to donate and be a part of ACM's charities and assistance to people in need.

"Taylor Swift, I noticed through the years, she's the first to throw herself right into any good cause," Parton said. "Any time anything happens, Taylor's there to make big donations and offer time and money. I'm so thankful to her. I just think she's precious."

All proceeds of the donations will be directed to the Dollywood Foundation My People Fund which will aim to support the families affected by the Smoky Mountain wildfire, many of whom lost homes and properties. The damage caused by the wildfire has caused an estimated total of $500 million lost properties and establishments.

"You never think about a thing like that happening," Parton said. "Especially in the Smoky Mountains -- the most beautiful place, the most-visited national park in the United States. You just think they're supposed just to be there in their glory forever. The only thing I can relate to it is when we had the floods in Nashville and how devastating that was," Parton said.

Parton said that her fund will give out $1,000 every month for six months to families who lost their residence. She aimed to raise at least $10 million, according to ET.

Parton's telethon is entitled "Smoky Mountains Rise: A Benefit for the My People Fund" which will feature herself and other famous singers and artists like Kenny Rogers, Reba McEntire, Big & Rich, Chris Young, Hank Williams Jr., and Cyndi Lauper. It airs on December 13 at 8 p.m. EST on Great American Country.

"My family show at Dollywood is called 'My People,' and so we felt that would be the perfect thing because it's about my people, the ones who aren't blood I could say are good neighbors and feel like family," Parton stated. "And even the fans and the people who come to all our businesses there, they're like family, so they're my people too. It just seemed to be the perfect name for it."

Survey: Hong Kong teens generally identify with traditional Chinese cultural values

In order an effort to promote traditional Chinese culture, the Chinese YMCA of Hong Kong, in collaboration with Macao YMCA, Guangzhou Suigang'ao Teenagers Institute, and the Teacher Chang Foundation of Taiwan, has conducted a survey on teens measuring their cultural awareness. They found that Hong Kong youths generally identify with and support the values of traditional Chinese culture.
Global Lutherans celebrate Reformation Day, ‘trusting in the power of grace in a merciless time’.
Yesterday, October 31, was Reformation Day, and Lutherans around the world held various events in commemoration. In Singapore, the Lutheran Church advocated for Christian communion, while the German Lutheran Church encouraged believers to face the challenge of “trusting in the power of grace in a merciless time.”
Many American churchgoers expect their pastors’ sermons to help them understand and address modern cultural issues
American churchgoers are looking for more than biblical explanation from their pastor each week. Many expect the sermons to help them understand and address modern cultural issues.
2.1M Korean Christians estimated at joint worship service to affirm family, oppose gay marriage, pray for nation
In the afternoon of Reformation Sunday, Oct. 27, some 2.1 million Christians gathered for a joint worship service from 2pm to 5pm in Seoul, Korea to “unite for repentance, revival, and restoration of holiness in our society.” According to organizers, an estimated 1.1 million joined onsite despite the bad weather with another 1 million joining online. The unprecedented joint worship service brought together Korean churches across denominations as they affirmed traditional marriage and family and
Willow Creek Community Church invites believers to write prayer cards for the next president
This past Sunday, Willow Creek Community Church based in Illinois invited believers to “pray for the next president” during the service. The church not only expressed its concern for the upcoming election but also emphasized the role believers should play in the process and the importance of offering prayers for the nation's leaders.

Dolly Parton Applauds Taylor Swift for the Singer’s Donation to Her Smoky Mountain Fund

Survey: Hong Kong teens generally identify with traditional Chinese cultural values

Many American churchgoers expect their pastors’ sermons to help them understand and address modern cultural issues American churchgoers are looking for more than biblical explanation from their pastor each week. Many expect the sermons to help them understand and address modern cultural issues.

Survey: Hong Kong teens generally identify with traditional Chinese cultural values

Global Lutherans celebrate Reformation Day, ‘trusting in the power of grace in a merciless time’.

Many American churchgoers expect their pastors’ sermons to help them understand and address modern cultural issues

2.1M Korean Christians estimated at joint worship service to affirm family, oppose gay marriage, pray for nation

Many American churchgoers expect their pastors’ sermons to help them understand and address modern cultural issues
American churchgoers are looking for more than biblical explanation from their pastor each week. Many expect the sermons to help them understand and address modern cultural issues.