Mountain Ways received a $2 million combined gift from Dolly Parton, The Dollywood Foundation, and several of Parton’s businesses on October 4, 2024, to support these efforts
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 17, 2024
Media Contact:
Bethany Yandell
Ackermann Marketing & PR
byandell@thinkackermann.com
(423) 200-7966
Gatlinburg, Tenn. – October 17, 2024 – Mountain Ways has launched its assistance initiatives to support Hurricane
Helene flood survivors. Individuals or families (homeowner or renter) with a 100% total loss of their primary
residence due to the 2024 flooding of Hurricane Helene may apply for assistance. Mountain Ways will focus their
initiatives in disaster-declared counties in Tennessee including Cocke, Carter, Greene, Hamblen, Hawkins, Johnson,
Unicoi, and Washington. Eligible counties in North Carolina include Ashe, Avery, Haywood, Madison, Mitchell,
Watauga, Yancey and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.
“I wasn’t sure what I could do, but I knew I needed to help in some way, so I recently donated $1 million to Mountain
Ways,” said Dolly Parton. “All of my East Tennessee businesses; Dollywood Parks & Resorts, My Stampede, Pirates
Voyage, and The Dollywood Foundation also combined to donate an additional $1 million because they wanted to
help as well. And help is exactly what I’m asking everyone to do right now. Be a little bit of light during this dark time
and give if you are able or volunteer your time to help.”
Those eligible can submit an application online at mtnways.org beginning Monday, October 21, until November 4,
2024. “The launch of our relief and recovery assistance, activates our first steps toward helping our neighbors in
Tennessee and Western North Carolina,” said Lori Moore, Executive Director of Mountain Ways. “We are rooted in
the values of the Appalachian region, and it is our mission to share and preserve Appalachian culture and heritage by
giving back and loving our neighbors who have witnessed catastrophic loss due to Hurricane Helene. As the need for
support to the flood survivors in Tennessee and Western North Carolina is great, donations and support to Mountain
Ways over the coming months is needed to expand the reach and depth of assistance. Our objective is to ensure that
100% of funds raised are going directly to survivors of the affected communities who need it most.”
“We are deeply grateful for the donations and pledges from everyone who has contributed to Mountain Ways over
the past two weeks. The outpouring of kindness and love from our community personifies the true spirit of the
Appalachian region,” said Joe and Jessi Baker, the co-founders of Mountain Ways. “We know the relief and recovery
efforts and the rebuilding for these communities is going to be long and storied, and we are committed to supporting
one other. We cannot thank our donors and community enough for walking along beside us.”
For more information about Mountain Ways, donations, resources, and assistance, visit mtnways.org or call (865)
412-7798.
About Mountain Ways:
Mountain Ways is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization co-founded by Joe and Jessi Baker, to share and preserve
Appalachian culture and heritage by giving back and loving our neighbors. Our spirit is in our name. The “ways” of
mountain folks in Appalachia are values like hospitality, perseverance, faith, survival, being neighborly, supporting
one another, and the grit and determination of doing whatever it takes. Thus, our mission is to share and preserve
Appalachian culture and heritage by giving back and loving our neighbors.
2024 Initiatives Focus: Mountain Ways launched relief and recovery assistance on October 17, responding to the
areas affected by 2024 flooding caused by Hurricane Helene in Tennessee and Western North Carolina.
For more information, please visit mtnways.org or call (865) 412-7798.
###