The East Tennessee Foundation Awards Nearly $5.5 Million in Grants for Hurricane Helene Recovery

The East Tennessee Foundation (ETF) has awarded 128 grants totaling nearly $5.5 million to support the region’s long-term recovery across East Tennessee communities impacted by Hurricane Helene in September 2024.

“One year after Hurricane Helene, the East Tennessee Foundation continues to provide strategic support to meet emerging needs and long-term recovery for our region,” said Keith Barber, President & CEO of the East Tennessee Foundation. “These grants are strengthening recovery efforts— from expanding access to mental health services and equipping first responders, to supporting small businesses and strengthening the capacity of East Tennessee’s Long-Term Recovery Groups. We are humbled and inspired by the generosity of our neighbors across Tennessee and beyond who have made it possible for us to support this critical work.”

Grants were awarded through the ETF’s Neighbor to Neighbor Disaster Relief (N2N) Fund, Donor Advised Funds, Field of Interest Funds and county-based Community Funds.

Through its vetted granting process, ETF awarded the following N2N Fund grants in the past six weeks:

Johnson County Trails Association – Serving Johnson County

• Restoring the Laurel Creek Trail, a hiking and biking path severely damaged by Hurricane Helene

Church Hill Rescue Squad – Serving Hawkins County

• Funding for a trailer for storing specialized rescue equipment used in disaster response

HNDS & FT – Serving Washington County

• Covering construction costs for three homes, including heavy equipment rentals and subcontractor services

Unicoi County Search & Rescue – Serving Unicoi County

• Purchasing of off-road response equipment intended for future disaster response

United Way of East Tennessee Highlands, for the benefit of FoundersForge – Serving Carter, Cocke, Greene, Johnson, Unicoi, and Washington counties

• Supporting the Avante Business Recovery Program for small businesses impacted by Hurricane Helene in northeast Tennessee

72: The Mission – Serving Washington County

• Repairing a home a home affected by storm damage

CrossRoads Missions – Serving Johnson County

• Funding locally based project managers for Operation Recovery’s efforts

East Tennessee State University – Serving Carter, Greene, Hawkins, Johnson, Sullivan, Unicoi, and Washington counties

• Expanding mental health services for students impacted by Hurricane Helene through the Counseling Center.

To learn more about the ETF’s disaster philanthropy, visit their Disaster Recovery webpage. Media inquiries, please contact Lisa Ford, Vice President of Strategic Engagement and Communications at 865-524-1223 ext. 118 or lf***@*tf.org.

About East Tennessee Foundation

The East Tennessee Foundation (ETF) is a 501(c)(3) public charity and nationally accredited community foundation focused on serving a 25-county region in East Tennessee. As a community foundation, the ETF operates as a collection of hundreds of distinct charitable funds and supporting organizations established by individuals, families, businesses and other nonprofits. As part of the ETF’s long-term recovery strategy, its Neighbor to Neighbor Disaster Relief Fund is exclusively supporting public charities, units of government, public educational institutions, and houses of worship who are helping East Tennessee communities recover from Hurricane Helene. For more information, visit www.easttennesseefoundation.org.

ETF is prioritizing funding for the development of formal Long-Term Recovery Groups (LTRGs) in the affected counties.