December 13th, 2023 – WINNSBORO, TX – The Northeast Texas Child Advocacy Center (NETCAC) today received the largest historical charitable gift made as a beneficiary of the Help-A-Child Benefit held annually in Hopkins County in October.
This year’s gift totaled $48,250, an increase of more than $11,000 over the charitable donation made in 2022, and the largest in the organization’s history.
“We are deeply humbled by the generosity of the people of Hopkins County,” NETCAC Executive Director Lauren Zastany said. “We cried tears of joy today because this gift far exceeded our expectations.”
NETCAC was one of the first beneficiaries of the event when the Help-A-Child Benefit began 16 years ago, with a donation of $12,000 in the first year.
The event has grown to include a multitude of activities like a chili and brisket cook-off, an Ag Mechanics class build-off, a raffle of a Kubota side-by-side and trailer, and more, raising more than $130,000 total for local foster families, the Scottish Rite Hospital for Children, and the Northeast Texas Child Advocacy Center.
“As the needs of our families and children have grown, so has the generosity of our community,” Zastany said. “We can provide trauma-informed services free of charge to more than 500 children who come through our doors each year because of this support. We are so incredibly grateful.”
Hopkins County Commissioner Wade Bartley and his wife Jan, Mr. Jim Wright of Hopkins County, Franklin County Constable Brantin Carr, members of the Masonic lodges in Hopkins and Franklin counties, and others were in attendance to present the donation in Winnsboro on Wednesday.
“Our mission is to bring hope and healing while working together to break the cycle of child abuse, and today, the people who run Help-A-Child did just that – they brought hope to hundreds of children this year,” Pamela Buttrick, President of the NETCAC Board of Directors said.
NETCAC serves an eight-county area of Northeast Texas, including Hopkins, Franklin, and Delta counties, and provides a safe, child-friendly environment for child victims of child sexual and/or physical abuse, or who have witnessed a violent crime or drug use in their home.
NETCAC works with law enforcement, child protective services, prosecutors, and medical and mental health professionals to develop effective, coordinated strategies to meet the needs of each unique case and child. For more information, visit http://www.netcac.org.
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