Area businesses continue putting their money and their manpower into flood recovery efforts in Tennessee. In addition to the Red Cross, several area organizations and companies have organized volunteer efforts and accepted donations. Earlier this week, Dolly Parton placed an announcement on her website to rally fans, family and friends to raise funds through http://www.dollyparton.com/ and to contribute to her cause during an exciting two-day event this weekend.
“Dolly Helps Nashville” May 22nd & 23rd as the Dollywood, Splash Country and Dixie Stampede companies donate all admission proceeds towards a special fund to benefit Music City flood victims. Sevier County officials, members of the local press and celebrities have joined forces in this donation effort through social networking. NBC – WBIR Channel 10 Knoxville reporters were live on the scene yesterday as this charitable movement continues to make headlines.
"I want to thank Dolly Parton for her efforts on behalf of the flood victims in Nashville and Middle Tennessee," Sevier County Mayor Larry Waters said as Jacob Timmons and Adam Chapman recorded his statement.
The team from S.D. Professionals, LLC have captured heartfelt statements about this fundraiser in order to post each one immediately onto the internet. Interviews included David Dotson with the Dollywood Foundation, Leon Downey with the Pigeon Forge Department of Tourism, Jim Hedrick of Fee/Hedrick Family Entertainment Group, and Mayor Waters. The WBIR news story can be found here: http://www.wbir.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=122125&catid=2&GID=taLaTroUAdskFJmCMA1ET61URIFGKCmDwHQlX4m3vvQ%3D
"We're posting it to social media networks like Facebook and we're tweeting about it and putting it on reddit," Jacob Timmons said. "In two or three days we're getting 4,000 to 5,000 hits on the videos. And the moment we upload a video, the donation counter starts turning."
It's all an effort to create buzz for this weekend's fundraiser "Dolly Helps Nashville." Other statements have been collected from Lt. Governor of Tennessee Ron Ramsey, Jeannie Seely of the Grand Ole Opry, Mountain Press Publisher Jana Thomasson, Sevierville City Mayor Bryan Atchley, LeConte Medical Center, Restaurant Owner Geoffrey Wolpert and Amanda Marr of the Sevierville Chamber of Commerce.
For more information or to place a donation online, please visit http://www.dollyparton.com/
