PIGEON FORGE — A $60,000 donation was given Tuesday to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society by Ole Smoky Distillery.
The money was raised during a recent fundraising effort at the retail locations in Sevier County and included donations from customers and contributions from the business. A check presentation for a like amount was also recently given to the Boys & Girls Club of the Smoky Mountains as part of the same fundraising event.
“It helps immensely locally with patient services, providing emergency grants, travel assistance, research — we have two researchers in the state, it goes toward that — and education,” said Lori Friel, campaign development manager with the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society in Knoxville. “What we raise here stays here. It’ll be for all of East Tennessee.”
The organization’s mission is to cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families.
“We’re very appreciative of Ole Smoky for doing a fundraiser to support patients to allow us to continue to find better treatments and better cures,” Friel said. “Generosity from people like this helps us do that.”
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society is one of the leading funders to help advance cancer research. More information about the organization can be found at lls.org.
“Cancer is a very nasty disease that affects way too many of us and it’s our way to help fight that battle,” said Cory Cottongim, Ole Smoky Distillery president of consumer experience and operations.
The distillery operates retail locations in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge.
“It’s all part of living our values of social and corporate responsibility and having respect for the community,” said Robert Hall, Ole Smoky Distillery CEO.
“We try and give back whenever we can and this is a very worthy charity because it affects so many and we’re pleased to be able to do it, just like we were very pleased to be able to help the Boys & Girls Club out last week.”
