Academy of Country Music®, ACM Lifting Lives® and Taylor Swift to Support Dolly Parton’s Charitable Telethon “Smoky Mountains Rise: A Benefit for the My People Fund” Airing Tuesday, December 13 at 8:00PM EST on GAC

ACM and ACM Lifting Lives Pledge® $100,000 Matched By Taylor Swift, Kicking Off Telethon With $200,000 Gift

NASHVILLE, TN (December 9, 2016) – The announcement of Dolly Parton’s upcoming “Smoky Mountains Rise: A Benefit for the My People Fund” telethon airing Tuesday, December 13 at 8:00pm EST on Great American Country (GAC) inspired the Academy of Country Music, ACM Lifting Lives and Taylor Swift today to pledge, in advance, a combined $200,000 to ensure the telethon starts off with a bang.

All monies raised during the telethon will go to the Dollywood Foundation My People Fund, established by Parton this week, to assist families affected by the recent, devastating fires in Sevier County, Tennessee.

“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,” said Tiffany Moon, Executive Vice President and Managing Director of the Academy. “We are so grateful to Taylor for her support to the Academy’s charitable efforts through the years, and for helping us and Dolly Parton assist families in need at a time of crisis.”

The My People Fund will provide $1000 each month to Sevier County families whose homes are uninhabitable or were completely destroyed in the recent Smoky Mountain wildfires. Any family who lost their primary residence (renters and homeowners) due to the wildfires in Sevier County will be eligible. A pre-application for those affected is available at dollywoodfoundation.org.

Anyone who would like to make a tax-deductible contribution to the My People Fund may visit dollywoodfoundation.org. Contributions may also be made via mail to: My People Fund, c/o Dollywood Foundation, 111 Dollywood Lane, Pigeon Forge, TN 37863.

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