December 12, 2006
By TIM MILLER
6 News Anchor/Reporter
SEVIERVILLE (WATE) -- Country music legend Dolly Parton has proven once again that she never forgets where she came from announcing a large donation to health care in Sevier County.
A new Ft. Sanders Sevier Medical Center and cancer center will be built on 74 acres at the site of the former Cherokee Textile plant, across the street from the current hospital.
Tuesday night, Parton helped make that project move forward.
At the hospital's celebration of state approval for a new $90 million hospital and cancer center, Parton announced she is donating $500,000 from Dollywood and Dixie Stampede to the hospital project.
She said she'll also do a rare public benefit concert on May 20 at Smokies Stadium. The two contributions together will total more than $1 million.
"But I really am looking forward to this and I know everybody here is but this is going to be something we're all going to be proud of and just know I'll do whatever I can to help," Parton told the employees from the hospital and Covenant Health.
Ft. Sanders Sevier president Ellen Wilhoit praised Parton's efforts.
"She's their hometown girl that always comes back and the great thing about Dolly is she gives back to this community. This is just another example, a really generous example, of how Dolly gives back to all the folks in Sevier County.
Officials hope to break ground early in the new year and see their first patients in the fall of 2009.
"This is going to be something we're all going to be proud of and just know I'll do whatever I can to help," Dolly Parton says.
