Taylor Swift Gives $100,000 to Help Hometown Kids

Taylor Swift donated $100,000 to help rebuild a playground in Hendersonville, Tenn., where she attended high school and lived with her family until this year, according to the Hendersonville Star-News. The 20-year-old superstar originally made the donation to help the city with its flood relief efforts, but her business manager suggested the money go toward the Kids Kingdom playground and refurbishing the city's volleyball courts. Board members are expected to vote on an ordinance accepting the money at the city's next Board of Mayor and Aldermen meeting on September 14.

"It's overwhelming," states Parks Director Dave LeMarbre. "We didn't expect that. We appreciate Taylor's donation as well as all the others who have stepped up."

The playground, which had been underwater several times throughout the last 13 years, was not entirely destroyed by May's historic flood, but if it had, then the city would have received insurance money for renovation of the popular children's area. It is expected to be torn down this fall and rebuilt early next year. LeMarbre expects a new playground to cost $175,000.

The city of Hendersonville has experienced the singer-songwriter's generosity before, as she donated $250,000 last December to assist schools she had attended across the country, some of those being Ellis Middle and Hendersonville High School, as well as John Paul II High School, where her brother Austin attended.

This was in addition to her previous $500,000 donation to efforts in Nashville, which was revealed during a local Nashville flood-relief telethon, hosted by Vince Gill a week after the devastating storm.

Taylor is getting ready for the release of her forthcoming album, 'Speak Now,' featuring the hot new single, 'Mine,' on October 25. In the meantime, you catch her during the ABC-TV special, 'CMA Music Festival: Country's Night to Rock,' airing Wednesday, September 1 at 8:00 PM ET.

Taylor Swift Live Performance