Actor Gary Sinise, who played Lieutenant Dan in the hit move Forrest Gump, is relocating his foundation from California to Nashville, Tennessee.
The organization, entitled the Gary Sinise Foundation, is veteran-focused and has a mission to support “unique programs designed to entertain, educate, inspire, strengthen, and build communities” for those who have served our country.
“After so many decades and some great successes here in California in the movie and television business, we wanted to change,” he said in an interview with Fox & Friends.
According to the actor, the state’s business climate played a role in his decision to select Tennessee, while also describing the fact the state is located near many military bases.
“I looked at all those no-tax states. … But I have many, many friends in the country music business and filmmaker friends in Nashville. There is all kinds of production going on in the Nashville area. It is a great no-tax state as you mentioned. It will be good for the foundation,” he continued.
Tennessee’s lack of a state income tax has drawn many individuals to relocate to the area over the past several years.
Sinise also indicated that many of his employees have already made the move to Nashville
“Most of the folks are out of California now and operating in the new space in the Nashville area. We have had to repopulate the staff with a great group of new people. So we are rebuilding. We’ve got a great new CEO. We’ve got a great leadership team,” he added.
The foundation routinely makes headlines for the work it does with veterans and their families. In 2019, the organization took more than 1,700 Gold Star family members on a trip to Disneyland, in addition to providing access to financial, health, and educational services.
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Cooper Moran is a reporter for The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Gary Sinise” by Gary Sinise. Background Photo “Gary Sinise Foundation” by Gary Sinise Foundation.Â
