NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Country artist Jett Williams, a long-time resident of Macon County, has launched a disaster relief program funded by a major benefit show to be held on Sat., May 10 at Deerwood Park in Red Boiling Springs, Tenn.
Major stars already in the lineup include Bill Anderson, Anastasia Brown and Pam Tillis.
In Macon County alone, 300 homes were destroyed or declared structurally unsound as a result of the tornadoes that ripped through the county on Tuesday, Feb. 5. Thirteen (13) are confirmed dead within miles of Jett's Macon County horse farm, home and recording complex.
“It is as though a bush hog a mile-wide cut a path 20 miles long through our county,” Jett said in making the announcement. “Our neighbors are devastated and they need help - direct help,” she continued.
In the past, this date in May - the day before Mother's Day - has been reserved for a Jett Williams Day concert to raise money for scholarships for deserving Macon County students. The scholarships will continue to be funded out of existing funds, but this year's event will be held to benefit the devastated residents of this county.
The worst damage and the largest number of fatalities were in Macon County, from the Green Grove Community in the southwest, to Galen near the Kentucky line in the northeast.
But anyone with financial loss not adequately covered by insurance - whether in Trousdale, Sumner or Macon counties in Tennessee, or in Kentucky - is eligible to benefit from the funds raised by this event.
Jett announced that a blue ribbon panel is being set up by James Chamberlain, the Dean of the local bar association, to administer the funds directly to the victims of the tornadoes. Members of the blue ribbon panel will include local bank executives, agricultural representatives and citizens active in and concerned about the communities involved.
"That way, folks who know the folks who suffered and are suffering the most in the rebuilding process will receive hard dollars or the actual goods they need," Jett said.
Additionally, funds raised will be used to set up a trust fund for "the miracle baby" who was found face down in a field five blocks from his deceased mother. Another aim she has is to establish a marker listing the names of the deceased.
Jett is joined in this effort by Nestle Waters North America Inc the owners of Deerwood Park and North Central Telephone Cooperative, which are the initial anchor sponsors. Also joining as initial sponsors are Macon County's Tri-County Electric Cooperative, Wal-Mart of Lafayette, Tenn., Citizens Bank, Piggly Wiggly Food Stores, Green Bank, and Macon Bank & Trust.
Scores of artists will participate in the all-day event and all of the proceeds will go directly to the victims of this horrible natural disaster. "We are going to help rebuild dreams, neighborhoods and communities by lending a helping hand, through music, with friends, helping friends," Jett concluded.
Post a Comment
