Music legends donate memorabilia for Helping Hands charity auction

Bill Carter and Melvin Bridges examine the guitar signed and donated by legendary Rolling Stones lead singer Keith Richards. The guitar will be auctioned to raise funds for the Rector Helping Hands Foundation (photo provided). [Click to enlarge]

Rector Helping Hands Foundation co-founder Bill Carter, a native of Rector who now resides in Lebanon, Tenn., is using his connections with professional musicians to take fundraising for the foundation to a new level.

As former manager of the legendary Rolling Stones, he called on lead guitarist Keith Richards to donate a signed guitar. The incredibly unique Zemaitis pearl front electric guitar was autographed by Richards in 2008 before he sent it to the foundation.

The package includes the guitar, copyrighted photographs of Richards holding and signing the guitar and a letter of authenticity provided by Richards, printed on Rolling Stones stationery.

The foundation asks that there be only serious inquiries. Those who wish to see additional photos or to see the guitar in person may e-mail info@rhshelpinghands.org to arrange a meeting.

The Foundation also has received items from country music stars Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban and Trace Adkins, soon to be auctioned on E-bay.

Underwood has donated an acoustic guitar which was there when she was inducted July 8 into the Grand Ole Opry.

The guitar is autographed by Carrie Underwood, Vince Gill, Dierks Bentley and many more.

The guitar was kept backstage at the Opry that night. Carrie and several others who performed during the show signed this guitar. The guitar comes with a letter of authenticity signed by the leadership of the Grand Ole Opry.

Urban personally signed a promotional poster from his highly-successful Title of CD Tour. The poster is suitable for framing, and will be an excellent gift for any Keith Urban fan. Along with the poster, the Foundation is offering nine Keith Urban CDs and Live DVD as part of the package.

Adkins is known for wearing cowboy hats during his concerts, and a unique gift collection features a cowboy hat personally autographed by Trace, along with the complete collection of his CDs. Another bonus to this package is Trace's best-selling book, A Personal Stand.

The RHS Helping Hands Foundation was established in 2006 to help meet the short-term financial needs of disadvantaged students attending Rector public schools.

With guidance from school administrators, teachers and counselors, the Foundation provides funding for basic health care, food and supplies and also helps fund purchases that benefit large groups of students, including musical instruments, athletic equipment and expenses incurred through field trips.

"We encourage you to visit our website often," said site designer Jim Taylor of Nashville, a member of the Helping Hands board. "Learn more about the Foundation and our auction items. You can be assured that ALL proceeds from these auctions will go directly to support disadvantaged children attending public schools in Rector, Arkansas."