By Shannon McFarlin News Director
Paris, Tenn.–Wow. What a year!
The unofficial total raised this year for the Henry County Helping Hand Radio Auction is $507,425.
That does not include the $500,000 donated today by the estate of Dr. Patricia Smith. According to Secretary Allie Harper, that donation is going to be dispersed among Helping Hand organizations over the next several years. The board will be making the decision on how it will be dispersed later.
The unofficial total, however, does include the $100,000 from an anonymous donor which was announced yesterday. A donation of $100,000 has been made at the end of the auction over recent years.
As is customary, today was Open To Anyone Day, with seven slates of items being donated. All of the leftover items, including refrigerators, lawn mowers, furniture and more, were bought today.
Every year, thousands of dollars is raised and is handed out to some 90 non-profit organizations in Henry County. The checks are presented to the organizations in April.
As we reported earlier today, Edward Jones Financial Advisor Brian Tusa of Paris presented the $500,000 donation from the Dr. Patricia Smith estate. Dr. Smith passed away in 2024. Brian was able to assist Dr. Smith, a long time teacher and administrator on a US military base in Germany, with her estate planning. In addition to Helping Hand, she also donated to PLUS, REAL Hope Youth Center and St. Jude to receive her savings and investments.
She earlier donated a sizeable amount to the Paris-Henry County Animal Shelter, which was announced at the February Paris City Commission meeting.
Photo: Helping Hand officials with Brian Tusa at the afternoon announcement: From left: John Etheridge, Kevin Buie, Oneida Waggoner, Caroline Dunn, Chris Babyar, Brian Tusa, David Flowers and Allie Harper. Photo by David Jackson/Forever Communications.