The following is a summary of the 2008 Annual Report, presented at the Foundation’s board meeting held on April 18, 2009.  Note: all foundation officers and directors serve without compensation and pay their own expenses.  Office space and operational expenses are donated by Hamilton Farms (Rector, AR).  Accounting services are donated by Robertson, Scherer and Collins, Inc. (Kennett, MO).  The Rector High School Helping Hands Foundation is chartered in the State of Arkansas and has obtained a 501(c)3 tax-exempt non-profit status from the federal government.  

Grants Awarded

The Helping Hands Foundation exists to provide short-term financial assistance to families living in the Rector community.  The Foundation’s school grants committee (Kay Huggins, Lisa Manchester and Julia Wyss) work closely with all of the teachers to ensure each grant benefits a student that is truly in need of financial help. 

There are many sanctioned school activities that some students and families simply cannot afford.  The Foundation acknowledges this reality and is committed to using its resources to provide every student with the opportunity to participate in these activities.

In 2008, the Foundation provided $21,356 in products and services that directly benefited the children in this community.  The following instances illustrate how your donations have helped families in this community.

Dental:  The Foundation provides dental care that many students cannot afford.  In one instance, a student with an abscessed tooth—pain so severe she could not attend school.  Her teacher reached out and took her to the dentist. 

Vision: Rector teachers will inform the Foundation when a child is having difficulty reading classroom materials.  The Foundation often pays for exams and prescription eye wear for any student that needs financial assistance.

Disaster Recovery:  The Foundation provided financial assistance to a Rector family that lost all of its belongings in a house fire.

Recreational Activities: The Foundation paid the registration fees for several students who wanted to attend a summer softball clinic but were unable to do so without financial assistance.  On multiple occasions, the Foundation reimbursed coaches for meals purchased for student athletes who were  returning from out-of-town events.

Conferences & Social Activities:  On multiple occasions, the Foundation paid student fees associated with attending out-of-town conferences.  In one instance, the Foundation purchased new clothing for one student to attend the statewide Future Business Leaders of America Conference.  The Foundation has also provided proper clothing for students so they could participate in drama productions, school dances and other social activities.

Clothing: Winter can be a very cold season in Northeast Arkansas.  The Foundation has continued to provide warm jackets, hoods, gloves and scarves to children who otherwise would not have warm clothing.

Senior Pictures:  The Foundation provided the financial support to ensure every high school senior would be photographed and featured in the school yearbook. 

Scholarships

Three scholarships are now funded by the Helping Hands Foundation.

The Robert and Pauline Crockett scholarship was endowed and funded for the fall semester of 2008. The scholarship provides $5,000 on an annual basis for a Rector high School graduate to attend Arkansas State University.  The scholarship is renewable with a 2.5 GPA.

The James W. Graves Memorial Scholarship has been funded effective September 2008.  It is a $5,000 college scholarship provided by his daughters.  The Rector High School recipient can select the college of choice and the scholarship is renewable with a 2.5 GPA.  

The Moses Knight Memorial Scholarship, provided by an anonymous donor, is a full-tuition scholarship to Williams Baptist College in Walnut Ridge, Arkansas.  The scholarship will be provided for the first time in the fall term of 2009.  It will be renewable for four years. 

 

The Foundation has also initiated a college scholarship from our donated funds that became effective for the fall term 2008.  This scholarship is for $5,000 and will be awarded to a graduate of Rector High School and the student may select the college.  The scholarship is renewable with a 2.5 GPA.

Fundraising Activities

In 2008, the Helping Hands Foundation coordinated two major fundraising events.

In July, more than 800 people attended the Helping Hands Foundation Benefit Concert that featured several Bill Gaither Homecoming performers.  The concert event raised more than $8,000 for the Foundation.  The Foundation is truly grateful for the volunteers who coordinated the event and the artists that performed that evening. 

In September, an original painting of Moses Knight was auctioned during the community’s annual Labor Day activities.  Mr. Knight was known to many people in Rector during the first half of the 20th century.  At the time, he was the only African-American living in the community.  Known as a kind person, Mr. Knight was a fixture in downtown Rector, where he often sat on a street corner playing his banjo or just visiting with folks.  To honor his memory, the Foundation asked Dr. Paul W. Frets, a Rector native and Professor Emeritus of Art at Radford University to paint a portrait of Moses.  Following the winning bid of $10,500, the winning bidder donated the portrait to the Rector Museum where it’s currently on display.

Financial Statement

Statement of Revenue and Expenses

For the Twelve Months Ended 12/31/08

REVENUE

Donations                                                    $46,806

Memorials                                                       6,065

Fundraising                                                   18,130

Interest Income                                               1,166

Certificate of Deposit                                           735

Revenue                                                      $72,902

EXPENSES

Office Rent                                                             0

Director Expenses                                                   0

Telephone                                                              0

Travel                                                                    0

Accounting                                                             0

Utilities                                                                  0

Program Services (Student Assistance)            21,356

Office Supplies                                                    840

Postage                                                                74

Fundraising Costs                                           10,379

Bank Fees                                                            10

Total Expenses                                            $32,659

TOTAL REVENUE (minus expenses)               $40,243

NOTE: Officers and Directors serve without compensation and pay their own expenses.  Office space and operational expenses are donated by Hamilton Farms (Rector, AR).  Accounting services are donated by Robertson, Scherer and Collins, Inc. (Kennett, MO).  The Rector High School Helping Hands Foundation is chartered in the State of Arkansas and has obtained a 501(c)3 tax-exempt non-profit status from the federal government.