Sevierville Web Design Company meets flood relief challenge

Funds raised by Dolly, Dollywood, Dixie Stampede and S.D. Professionals' online campaign, specifically earmarked by Parton to help devastated families restore and renovate.

Dolly Parton presented $250,000, in Nashville to Mayor Karl Dean and United Way representatives, with the money specifically designated by Parton to aid Nashville-area flood victims who are restoring and rebuilding in the flood’s aftermath.

After much consideration, Parton decided to donate the funds raised during her Dolly Helps Nashville event on May 22 and 23 to the United Way’s Restore the Dream Fund. The donation includes net admission proceeds from Parton’s Dollywood and Dixie Stampede properties in Pigeon Forge, Tenn., as well as fan contributions to DollyParton.com.

“My husband took me to see the damage done by the flooding, and I was absolutely unprepared for what I saw,” Parton said. “I knew right then and there that something had to be done to get those families who’d lost everything back in their homes. And that’s what the mayor, the other Karl Dean, and the United Way have so graciously agreed to help me do. Get this money to those folks who are hurting the most.”

The United Way’s Restore the Dream Fund was established to assist nonprofit organizations throughout Middle Tennessee recover and resume operations in the event of a natural or man-made disaster. The fund is managed and administered by United Way of Metropolitan Nashville. The Restore the Dream Fund will specifically work with Family Resource Centers to meet the needs of those hardest hit. In addition, none of Parton’s contribution will be used to cover the agency’s administrative fees.

Parton also challenged area East Tennessee businesses to join the effort which was met by S.D. Professionals, the company that designed DollyParton.com and facilitated online donations.

“I know that it’s going to take a lot of effort and hard work and money to reverse the damage,” Parton added. “I know, too, that folks in Nashville have been great supporters of Dollywood and Dixie Stampede, so I wanted to let them know that we understand that they are suffering, and we’re here to help like good neighbors should. As my Dollywood theme park marks its 25th anniversary this season, we’re celebrating the dreamer in everybody. I think it’s really fitting that we can work through the Restore the Dream Fund, and, with this contribution, help bring dreams and hopes and peace of mind to my fellow Nashvillians.”

Dolly's fans help Nashville!

In only 8 days, with the power of people helping people: http://www.dollyparton.com/ received tens of thousands of visitors from across the world to find out about the weekend flood relief effort taking place at Dollywood and Dolly's Dixie Stampede.

The 'Dolly Helps Nashville' Facebook page received thousands of visits and nearly 900 friends and fans.

The 'Dolly Helps Nashville' Twitter page, gained nearly 40 followers totaling +/- 25,000 collectively. And what did that get the people of Nashville, TN? Because of the awareness that YOU helped bring to Dolly's flood relief effort, this weekend thousands flocked to Pigeon Forge to visit Dollywood, Splash Country and Dolly's Dixie Stampede to show their support!

So as the final numbers are being tallied, please find comfort in knowing that because of each you we have raised $42,066.00!

If you have not yet had the chance to donate, we will leave the donations page available on http://www.dollyparton.com/ for the next few days while the final numbers are being totaled.

Come to Dollywood, Splash Country or Dixie Stampede!

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 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 www.dollyparton.com