Enhancing East Tennessee’s Resiliency, the East Tennessee Foundation Bolsters Legal, Environmental, & Other Disaster Recovery Partnerships

Since the East Tennessee Foundation (ETF or Foundation)’s last recovery update in March, the ETF has awarded 11 more recovery grants and expanded its disaster-recovery partnerships, enhancing East Tennessee’s ability to holistically recover.

“As East Tennessee moves forward now six months past Helene, the East Tennessee Foundation continues investing in partnerships with local, frontline leaders who are helping our neighbors facing unmet needs and are ultimately equipping the region to build resiliency,” said the ETF President & CEO Keith Barber. “Along with recently launching long-term recovery groups in the affected counties, we are also partnering with other community-driven nonprofits focused on resiliency – like Legal Aid of East Tennessee and MountainTrue – to strengthen East Tennessee’s economic opportunity, access to justice, and environmental stewardship.”

So far, the ETF has awarded 102 Helene-related grants totaling $4,446,487 to 79 unique grantee partners. The latest recovery grants from the ETF’s Neighbor to Neighbor Disaster Relief Fund – which includes grants from March 20, 2025, to April 18, 2025 – awarded 11 grants to support our partners at the following organizations:

Legal Aid of East Tennessee – Serving Carter, Cocke, Grainger, Greene, Hamblen, Hancock, Hawkins, Jefferson, Johnson, Sevier, Sullivan, Unicoi, and Washington counties

• Funding an attorney and related expenses for one year to address the increased demand for legal aid following Hurricane Helene across 13 counties

MountainTrue – Serving Unicoi County

• Supporting a partnership with the Nolichucky Outdoor Recreation Association (NORA)’s economic development and environmental cleanup program resulting from Hurricane Helene

Erwin Presbyterian Church – Serving Unicoi County

• Funding HVAC repairs to a storm-impacted home and replacing lost tools and equipment for a local business in Unicoi County

HNDS & FT – Serving Greene County

• Funding materials and supplies needed to repair and restore homes impacted by Hurricane Helene in Greene County

Through the ETF’s Northeast TN School Districts Neighbor to Neighbor Disaster Relief Fund, grants were awarded to provide home and school supplies to students and families impacted by Hurricane Helene in the following local education systems:

• Carter County Schools
• Cocke County Schools
• Greene County Schools
• Johnson County Schools
• Newport City Schools
• Unicoi County Schools
• Washington County Schools

“Key to both our long-term recovery strategy and our mission of building multigenerational communities is leveraging our position as East Tennessee’s own community foundation to strengthen our region’s nonprofit landscape through trusted partnerships,” said Barber. “From working with thoughtful donors who care about East Tennessee’s long-term needs to empowering our community’s invaluable nonprofit network, the East Tennessee Foundation is immensely grateful to everyone working together to build a better East Tennessee – today, tomorrow, and across generations.”

The ETF continues receiving donations, processing grants, and awarding grants through its Neighbor to Neighbor Disaster Relief Fund to strategically maximize impact and support locally led long-term recovery for communities in East Tennessee facing devastating impacts from Hurricane Helene.

Media inquiries, please contact Ashley Copeland, the ETF Director of Marketing & Community Relations, by phone at 865-524-1223 ext. 109 or ac*******@*tf.org.