Concert entertains, inspires others

Rector Helping Hands co-founder Bill Carter gets a kiss from Christian singer/comedian Mark Lowry after the Aug. 5 benefit concert here. (Democrat photo/Nancy Kemp)

[Click to enlarge]

But it's not just the unbelievable artists, music, lights and sound that have people talking. The uniquely established and operated Rector High School Helping Hands Foundation, for which the concerts raise funds, also has won nationwide attention and is inspiring people all over the country to reach out to others.

In an Aug. 5 show which featured gospel greats Mark Lowry, Jason Crabb, Charlotte Ritchie, Gene McDonald and Kevin Williams and hot bluegrass group Dailey & Vincent, Rector netted almost $40,000 for the Foundation to provide scholarships, eyeglasses, dental work, athletic uniforms and shoes, band instruments, medical care, money for school trips and much more to disadvantaged students in the Rector school district.

Dailey & Vincent have established their own Dailey & Vincent Fund to assist disadvantaged students in Tennessee's Jackson and DeKalb counties, and many top artists, who now ask to donate their time for the Rector foundation, also are looking for ways to reach out to students in need in their own hometowns.

How did this happen? Two Rector grads who have had amazing careers in other parts of the country heard of the need in the small town where they graduated together in 1953, and together decided to use their influence and resources to make a difference in the lives of disadvantaged Rector students.

Bill Carter got a law degree, was a Secret Service agent during the Kennedy years, was attorney for the Rolling Stones during their early tumultuous years and represented country music stars such as Reba McEntire before eventually becoming producer of Bill Gaither's Homecoming video series and other projects in Nashville.

George Barker became a Major General in the U.S. Army, was twice awarded the Distinguished Service Medal, was a national executive with the American Cancer Society and eventually CEO of the New York City Division of ACS and now serves on several boards with both civilian and military connections and works tirelessly in humanitarian efforts in the bottom 30 countries of the world.

Carter said he was driving down the street on a visit to Rector and saw a young girl who was obviously poor and in need. Deeply moved, he immediately called Barker to suggest the two of them do something to help the disadvantaged kids in their hometown.

And the seed was planted.

Carter and Barker then called on other friends they went to school with here and some local people they saw as compassionate hard workers and the foundation was launched in late 2006.

Hundreds of community volunteers have pitched in for fundraisers, tremendously elevating the foundation's capacity to help students. And since Carter starting using his influence to bring top recording artists to Rector for an annual concert, the town fills up with people from all over the place who are not only entertained, but learn a lot about the Helping Hands Foundation and often decide to lend their support as well.

Hundreds of students now have benefited from foundation grants for various needs, and 10 students have received college scholarships through the foundation -- and that number is sure to grow.

Dailey & Vincent asked Carter to bring them back to Rector this year after receiving a very enthusiastic reception in their first visit here last year. And now they've announced they will be back again.

"They said they'd be back here for a show Aug. 4, 2011," Carter laughed. "I told them we hadn't even chosen a date for next year, but they said that's when it would be because that's when it would work for them. Jason Crabb is begging to come back next year. Mark Lowry called me the morning after the concert and talked for an hour about what a great time he had in Rector and how touched he is by the foundation and the wonderful things it is doing. I've known Mark a long time, and I've never seen him like that."

"I loved being a part of the Helping Hands benefit concert in Rector," Lowry said. "Jason Crabb, Dailey & Vincent, Charlotte Ritchie and Gene McDonald were all on the program. It was great seeing old friends I don't get to work with very often, Jason and Dailey & Vincent. And it was great seeing those I do see a lot, Charlotte and Gene. But the most wonderful thing about the Helping Hands concert was knowing that there were underprivileged young people who were going to be helped. Jesus said, 'When you've done it to the least of these, you've done it unto me.' That's what it felt like we were doing, we were helping 'the least of these.'"

For the Helping Hands Foundation co-founders, the board members and the hundreds now involved in the organization's work, that's what it's all about. And many of those who have been helped by the foundation are eager to someday do their part to help others.

The fire was kindled by Bill Carter and George Barker in 2006, but now it's blazing, and the love, kindness and concern for those in need is spreading like wildfire. Who knows where this might lead?