Photo Credit: Morgan Wallen by Andrew Wendowski / CC by 4.0
Tennessee native Morgan Wallen donates $500,000 to the American Red Cross for Hurricane Helene relief following devastating flooding affecting Appalachia.
Country star and Tennessee native Morgan Wallen is donating $500,000 to the American Red Cross to help his home region of East Tennessee recover from devastating flooding damage caused by Hurricane Helene. The gift from the Morgan Wallen Foundation, initially announced on September 30, is one of the biggest donations to efforts helping those affected by the previously unheard of flooding that continues to devastate communities throughout Appalachia.
“My family in East Tennessee are safe, but I know many are absolutely devastated there and in multiple states,” said Wallen on his social channels. “Those hills and hollers are very important to me in so many ways. It is going to take a monumental effort, and I am in contact with my team and others working on ways I can help.”
Wallen contributes $3 to his foundation for every concert ticket sold. The foundation had donated over $500,000 in East Tennessee alone to other causes, prior to the flood relief donation, such as music and sports organizations in the region. These include $140,000 to the Gibbs Youth Sports program to renovate Ruritan Park.
“We can’t thank Morgan Wallen enough for his heart and generous $500,000 donation to impact help on the ground now in the areas affected by Hurricane Helene, including his beloved East Tennessee,” said Trevor Riggin, Red Cross’ National President for Humanitarian Services, in a statement to Tennessee’s Knox News.
Meanwhile, state officials have warned against potential donation scams, and encourage people to give to reputable organizations, including the American Red Cross.
As of September 30, more than 100 people have been reported dead from the hurricane, with hundreds of others still missing. Hurricane Helene is one of the deadliest hurricanes to hit the mainland United States in the past 50 years, according to CNN. Additionally, over 1.5 million people across South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia, and Tennessee, remain without power in the hurricane’s wake.
