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Dolly Parton's Dollywood Foundation starts donations to Tennessee fire victims

By Wade Sheridan
Dolly Parton holds her Tex Ritter award backstage at the 51st annual Academy of Country Music Awards on April 3. Parton and her Dollywood Foundation is set to donate $1,000 a month to families affected by the Tennessee wildfires. File Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI
1 of 2 | Dolly Parton holds her Tex Ritter award backstage at the 51st annual Academy of Country Music Awards on April 3. Parton and her Dollywood Foundation is set to donate $1,000 a month to families affected by the Tennessee wildfires. File Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | License Photo

GATLINBURG, Tenn., Dec. 1 (UPI) -- Dolly Parton and her Dollywood Foundation have announced plans to start donating $1,000 a month for six months to families displaced by the Tennessee wildfire.

"As you may know by now, there have been terrible wildfires in the Great Smoky Mountains, the same mountains where I grew up and where my people call home," the country music star said in a statement announcing the donations.

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"I have always believed that charity begins at home, and my home is someplace special. That's why I've asked my Dollywood companies ... to help me establish the 'My People Fund,'" she continued.

Parton also took to Twitter to announce the project alongside a video where she mentioned her plans to provide relief to "all those families who lost their homes in the fires."

On Wednesday, officials in Sevier County announced that seven people have died from the wildfire that is affecting the cities of Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg where Parton grew up. Nearly 15,000 people have since been evacuated as the fire started to spread on Monday.

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