Over 275 guests attended Saddle Up for Project Help, one of Rutherford County’s favorite summer events at MTSU’s Foundation Reception House.  Guests showed off their favorite jeans, boots and cowboy hats while enjoying a Western-themed evening filled with barbecue, lively live music and a multi-faceted silent auction.   Raising more than $48,000--this year’s proceeds will go for expansion of Project Help with the ongoing goal: to provide quality educational options for all families with young children. Project Help Board of Directors Co-Chairs Jack and Sandy Mitchell announced the totals at a recent gathering of board members.  

Above photo: Project Help staff: Jacob Smith, Becky Davidson, Tricia Yeargan, Helen Kasawne, Celina Morris, Susan Waldrop (center), Mary Bowens, Bobbie Young, Amanda Kelley, Deborah Newman, Kerry Boylan. (missing are teachers Tanya Estrada and Lindsey Shepard)

  Director Susan Waldrop, “This year’s Saddle Up was fun, relaxed and the best ever. We always enjoy having Arthur Kirkby and Chi share their artistry, plus this year we were joined by Head Football Coach Rick Stockstill with members of the 2013 football team, Coach Davis’s lovely family representatives, Golf Coach Whit Turnbow, and interim Baseball Coach Jim McGuire along with Golf Coach, Lisa Adams.  The Saddle Up committee, made up entirely of volunteers, worked tirelessly to ensure that the evening went smoothly. As always we are extremely grateful!

Project Help is a pre-service training and outreach component of MTSU. It is also considered an integral part of the Rutherford County community. As a United Way agency, the center-based, inclusive program offers early intervention services free-of-charge to families with very young children who have been diagnosed with a delay or disability.  Project Help has offered a wide variety of early childhood educational experiences for almost 30 years and continues to provide effective goal-oriented, hands-on classroom techniques to over 300 MTSU and Motlow State students each year.  To learn more about Project Help call (615) 898-2458, or visit http://www.mtsu.edu/projecthelp.

For more information contact:  Susan Waldrop, Director, (615) 898-2458