The East Tennessee Foundation Invests $4.8 Million in Hurricane Helene Recovery, Advancing Long-Term Resilience in East Tennessee

[Knoxville, Tenn. – June 12, 2025] – As East Tennessee communities continue rebuilding homes, businesses, and infrastructure from the devastating effects of Hurricane Helene – recognized as the nation’s deadliest and among the costliest storms since Hurricane Katrina – over the past eight months, the East Tennessee Foundation (ETF) has awarded approximately $4.8 million in recovery-related grants, accelerating the region’s path toward long-term recovery and resilience.

“We’re celebrating East Tennessee’s progress and perseverance in the face of adversity,” said Keith Barber, President & CEO of the East Tennessee Foundation. “Most recently, citizens of Greene County have formed a Long-Term Recovery Group, thanks to our donors and partnership with AIDNET. Recovery is a journey – and we’re honored to support the formation of Recovery Groups that shape East Tennessee’s evolving story, comprised of thousands of moments where people continue choosing hope, partnership, and community.”

Local Leadership at the Heart of Recovery

One of the Foundation’s strategies is to build locally led, sustainable recovery infrastructure throughout East Tennessee. To date, the ETF has launched six county-based Long-Term Recovery Groups (LTRGs) in Carter, Cocke, Greene, Johnson, Unicoi, and Washington counties. These groups coordinate ongoing case management, reconstruction, emotional support services, and other unmet needs in areas affected by natural disasters.

In the past month, the ETF awarded an additional $322,373 in disaster recovery funding through its Neighbor to Neighbor Disaster Relief (N2N) Fund. These grants support staffing, home repair materials, volunteer resources, and sustained operations. Recent grant recipients include:

First Tennessee Development District Foundation – Serving Washington County

• Supporting a short-term database manager position for the Washington County Long-Term Recovery Group’s ongoing operations

AIDNET of Greene County – Serving Greene County

• Funding 18 months of operations for the Greene County Long-Term Recovery Group and its work to support those impacted by Hurricane Helene

Appalachian United Initiative – Serving Unicoi County

• Providing building materials and essential contractor services to support homes affected by Hurricane Helene

Frontier Health – Serving Carter County, Greene County, Hawkins County, Johnson County, Unicoi County, and Washington County

• Strengthening long-term disaster recovery through funding volunteer support expenses, household essentials, landscaping and garden restoration, and community outreach supplies

The ETF’s N2N Sub-Funds awarded targeted support helping the following communities:

Clinch-Powell RC&D Council – Serving Cocke County

• Delivering gap funding to assist families with needs not covered by other funding sources

Johnson County Senior Center – Serving Johnson County

• Supporting the nonprofit’s sustainability with flooring upgrades

First Tennessee Development District Foundation – Serving Washington County

• Contributing to the Washington County Long-Term Recovery Group’s short-term database manager position

The ETF remains committed to investing in programs estimated to span three to five years, recognizing the long-term nature of disaster recovery work.

“We are deeply grateful to our mission-minded donors who trust us to lead philanthropic investment in the region’s future,” said Barber. “This work – centered on building local solutions – defines who we are as a community foundation. We remain humbled and inspired by all our partners helping the people and places that are unique to East Tennessee.”

To learn more about the ETF’s disaster philanthropy, visit their Disaster Recovery website page. 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.

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.