Paris, Tenn.–Checks were presented Wednesday by the PLUS Endowment board to the Directors of the Henry County Schools and Paris Special Schools District (PSSD) to augment monies that would ordinarily have been raised with fundraising events.
For the past few years, the month of August has been designated as PLUS Endowment Month. In a normal year there would be benefit breakfasts, various fund raisers and an emphasis on collecting donations from numerous local businesses and individuals.
PLUS Endowment Board Member Steve Blount said, “However, because of the uncertainty created by the COVID-19 pandemic there is nothing normal about this year. Therefore, the PLUS board of directors recognized the need to provide special funding to our school systems in a different manner than past years.”
This year, rather than awarding grants of $500 to $5,000 to individual educators in both the Paris Special School District and Henry County School System the PLUS board has worked directly with Dr. Norma Gerrell and Dr. Leah Watkins to identify and meet immediate needs of their respective systems.
Thus far this year, PLUS has donated a combined $37,500 to both systems and the PLUS board anticipates and looks forward to assisting with other needs as opportunities are identified.
PLUS is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization that has been providing funds to support educators and students in both school systems for more than 20 years. If you would like to be part of this effort, please mail your contribution to PO Box 52, Paris, TN 38242.
Photo: In front, Randall Perkins of PLUS Endowment presents checks to Henry County Schools Director Dr. Leah Watkins and Paris Special Schools District Director Dr. Norma Gerrell. In back row, from left are PLUS Endowment members Patsy and Steve Blount, Brenda Evans, Brother Randy Stephens and Sheriff Monte Belew. (Shannon McFarlin photo).