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
Welcome to Tennessee. Leave your blue state politics at the state line.
More California values moving to Nashville and Tennessee. Not good.
Your point is well taken but know there are many leaving California due to their frustration with California politics, the expense, the over-crowding, the crime, the porous border, the string of state propositions along with the oppressive California business environment. I would argue a number of ex-Californians here, I have met many, who escaped California and are steeled to make sure the same liberal mistakes are not made here. They, like I, sought a better life and it is found in Tennessee.
Thank you, Ken! That is why we moved to Tennessee! Further, my neighbors are all colors, and we love each other. I never go to the market without getting a hug. I would hate for that loving innocence and beauty to be threatened. Also the children are taught manners and the men still open the doors for ladies. I love Tennessee!
Thank you, Lawanda, I agree with, and can related to everything you said. I love Tennessee, the people and the culture.
Dr Ken – It is obviously true that many have relocated to Tennessee to escape from the liberal misdeeds of their previous residence. But that does not necessarily assure that they are conservative in their politics. I am convinced that many do not embrace our culture but rather are seeking a relief from policies that they supported that drove up costs and caused mayhem. I am painting with a broad brush, but I do believe that I have a valid argument. Only time will tell and by then it will be too late.
Again, your concerns are well founded. I can tell you I am a California transplant and I, as one of many, escaped as you say the liberal misdeeds. I love the Southern culture, the people, and the area. I can assure you I, and many other transplants, are conservative. We simply were out voted time and again with the radical left pushing more spending, more government control and more societal degradation. We left as we were tired by the constant leftward drift in the California culture. We were tired of having to pay increased taxes for their follies. Many professionals, many physicians, many businesses left along with us relocating to Texas, Tennessee and Florida. I am not dismissing your argument; I just want to point out the motives of myself and many others.
Dr Ken. Thank you for a the very thoughtful response. I am acquainted with other transplants that share your values. In my professional capacity I was charged with supporting a sister company located in the California Central Valley due west of San Francisco. That region is conservative by California standards but was liberal by Tennessee standards. I appreciate folks like you that have come to Tennessee with a true understanding of the disaster called California politics. I lived in the Houston area for many years and observed firsthand its devolvement from a conservative cow town into a disgusting “cosmopolitan” cesspool. I am afraid that Tennessee is well down that same path. I sincerely hope that I am wrong.