Dolly, Reba McEntire, Kenny Rogers and Alison Krauss Set to Perform
(NASHVILLE, TENN. — December 8th, 2016) RFD-TV and Rural Radio Channel 147 on SiriusXM Radio are partnering with the Dollywood Foundation’s My People Fund to help raise money for the victims of the recent fires in the Great Smoky Mountains. Dolly Parton and a number of her friends, including Reba McEntire, Kenny Rogers, and Alison Krauss are scheduled to perform during a telethon, “Smoky Mountains Rise: A Benefit for the My People Fund,” on Tuesday, December 13th from 8:00 p.m. EST – 11:00 p.m. EST on RFD-TV and Rural Radio.
The nationally-broadcast, three-hour telethon seeks to raise money for the Dollywood Foundation’s My People Fund, established by Parton, The Dollywood Company, and Parton’s dinner theaters in the wake of last week’s wildfires in the entertainment icon’s home area of Sevier County, Tennessee. Additional celebrities who will join the “Smoky Mountains Rise” telethon will be announced in the coming days.
“I’m so proud that RFD-TV and Rural Radio can be a part of the efforts to help the families devastated by these wildfires,” stated Patrick Gottsch, Founder & President of Rural Media Group. “This telethon will be a great opportunity to raise more funds to help support the people of Tennessee. RFD-TV viewers and Rural Radio listeners are some of the most compassionate people you’ll meet, and I have no doubt they will step up to help the affected families.”
During the telethon people can call in to donate at 1-866-CAREMORE (1-866-227-3667). All online donations will be directed to the Dollywood Foundation.
“My home in the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee is some place special,” Parton said. “Wildfires have affected many of the people — my people — who live in those beautiful mountains. We want to provide a hand up to those families who have lost everything in the fires. I know it has been a trying time for my people and this assistance will help get them back on their feet.”
The recent wildfires in East Tennessee have wrought tremendous damage to the Smoky Mountain region including around Gatlinburg where Dolly Parton grew up. More than 1,750 structures have been destroyed and hundreds of families have been displaced. Moreover, the fires disrupted the region’s number one industry — tourism. The area is now open and welcoming guests, but the people directly affected by the fires desperately need help.
Dolly created the My People Fund through her Dollywood Foundation to provide direct relief to the families who lost their homes (primary residence, own or rent). Each family will receive $1,000 per month for six months to give them a hand up. The funds are open to both renters and homeowners whose primary residences are uninhabitable or were destroyed by wildfires in the Smokies. To date nearly 1,700 structures have been affected by the fire and 13 people have died. More than $1 million has already been raised for area families through the fund. Significant donors to the fund include Verizon, Tanger Outlets, Miley Cyrus’ Happy Hippie Foundation, CoreCivic, and The Blalock Company. Remaining proceeds after satisfying this initial effort will be used to provide direct aid in Sevier County, Tennessee.
According to a release from the foundation, “the first funds will be distributed 10:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. December 15-16 and December 19-20 at the CARE MORE Assistance Center at the LeConte Events Center in Pigeon Forge. One check per household per month will be issued. All recipients must show a photo ID. The release said that those needing assistance in the application process should call 800-DOLLYWOOD.”
RFD-TV is distributed to more than 50 million homes across the country on various cable systems including DISH Network, DIRECTV®, Comcast, AT&T U-Verse, Mediacom, Charter Spectrum, Suddenlink, Cox, and more than 600 independent rural cable systems. In addition, people can watch on Roku, on DIRECTV NOW, and online via our subscription service, the Country Club, at rfdcc.com. Rural Radio is found exclusively on SiriusXM channel 147 and is the agribusiness and Western-lifestyle channel for the U.S. and Canada. Rural Radio’s program schedule revolves around original productions focused on agriculture, equine, hunting, fishing, Western sports, and living the country life in small towns around rural America.
For more information about the Dollywood Foundation, visit dollywoodfoundation.org. For the full program schedule and more information about RFD-TV and Rural Radio Channel 147 on SiriusXM visit rfdtv.com and ruralradio147.com.
Suggested Tweet: Watch @DollyParton’s telethon on @OfficialRFDTV LIVE from #Nashville to raise $$ for #Gatlinburg fire victims. #SmokyMountainsRise #MyPeopleFund #SomePlaceSpecial
Suggested Hashtags: #MyPeopleFund, #SmokiesStrong, #Gatlinburg, #SomePlaceSpecial, #SmokyMountainsRise.
###
ABOUT RURAL MEDIA GROUP:
Rural Media Group, Inc. is the world’s leading provider of multimedia content dedicated to the rural and Western lifestyle. With a mission of reconnecting “city with country,” RMG is the parent company of RFD-TV, RURAL RADIO, FamilyNet, and RFD-TV The Magazine. RMG networks are distributed to more than 100 million homes worldwide by DBS, telco and cable systems including DISH Network, DIRECTV®, Comcast, AT&T U-Verse, Mediacom, Charter Spectrum, Suddenlink, Cox, and more than 600 independent rural cable systems. Corporate headquarters and broadcast operations are in Nashville, Tennessee.
ABOUT RFD-TV:
RFD-TV is the flagship network for Rural Media Group. Launched in December 2000, RFD-TV is the nation’s first 24-hour television network featuring programming focused on the agribusiness, equine and the rural lifestyle, along with traditional country music and entertainment. RFD-TV produces six hours of live news each weekday in support of rural America and is a leading independent cable channel available in more than 50 million homes.
ABOUT RURAL RADIO:
Found exclusively on SiriusXM channel 147, this is the agribusiness and Western-lifestyle channel for the U.S. and Canada. RURAL RADIO’s program schedule revolves around original productions focused on agriculture, equine, hunting, fishing, Western sports, and living the country life in small towns around rural America. Broadcast operations for the station are located in Nashville, Tennessee. The channel airs multiple exclusive series including “MARKET DAY REPORT,” “RURAL EVENING NEWS,” “RURAL AMERICA LIVE,” and “WESTERN SPORTS ROUND-UP,” as well as “Outside the Barrel,” with Flint Rasmussen, “Commodity Wrap,” with Marlin Bohling, “AgPhD,” “RealAg Radio,” “AgDay,” “FFA Today,” and “Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World.” RURAL RADIO also carries live broadcasts of Western sports competitions such as the PBR, PRCA rodeos, and WPCA Chuckwagon races.
FamilyNet:
FamilyNet is America’s trusted entertainment network dedicated to providing wholesome and responsible viewing choices for today’s diverse family.
RFD-TV The Magazine:
RFD-TV The Magazine is the print programming guide for the networks. It has attracted more than 180,000 paid subscribers.
For more information, visit rfdtv.com, familynet.com, ruralradio147.com.
MEDIA CONTACT:
PR@rfdtv.com, (615) 296-9332