June 10 article in Ole Miss newspaper

http://www.thedmonline.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2004/06/10/40c7ec98c993a

Community raises $20,000 for UM student
by Mandy McAnallySpecial to The DM
June 10, 2004

The town of Winona, proved there is strength in numbers last Saturday, when more than 700 residents gathered at the Montgomery County Coliseum to raise $20,000 for UM Student Jodie Tharp.

Tharp, of Winona, was severely, injured in an automobile accident on Highway 6 about two months ago and is now in rehab in the Shepherd Center in Atlanta.
Jodie Tharp Benefit volunteers worked the face painting, dunking booths, cakewalk and other children's activities, while others organized the 300 items donated for the benefit's auction. Items for the auction included a football signed by Eli Manning.

Teams of workers also manned the concession stand, which sold almost $4,000 in baked goods, hamburgers and hot dogs.

Mac Ables, coordinator of the benefit, worked extensively with members and businesses in Winona and many others to organize the event. He said he is grateful for the help and excited by the outcome of the event.
"It was a complete success," Ables said. "People really turned out, and it was really a lot of fun. You could just tell the family was so touched."
Tharp's two sisters, Beth Tackett of Greenwood, and Jennifer Eastland of Jackson, spoke at the event.

Tharp's performance in therapy will determine her length of stay at the Shepherd Center. For now, she has progressed enough to extend her treatment until June 15th.

Ables predicts the proceeds from the various fundraisers, including the benefit, personal donations and the raffle to win a grill donated by Viking, which ends July 15th, will bring the amount raised to more than $30,000.

All of the donations will go to help the Tharp family pay for hospital and rehabilitation expenses.