Randy Helms
How did you first become involved with the Nick Finnegan Counseling Center?
Susan and Bill Finnegan were very dear and close friends of my wife Alice growing up in Houston. Nick Finnegan and Scotty Caven were good friends of our children Chuck and Becky Helms, by way of participating in various sports and social activities in both junior high and high school.
Stuart Ford and I began volunteering and serving as auctioneers for Goodwill Industries of Houston for over 10 years. We had several overlapping friendships who supported Goodwill and the Counseling Center. One of those friends, NFCC’s Executive Director, Mary Hand, approached us in 2014 knowing we had “auctioneering experience” and asked if we would mind volunteering to be the auctioneers for the Nick Finnegan Counseling Center Gala. We of course agreed and that is how I became involved with the counseling center.
What are your favorite Tree of Life Gala moments?
My favorite items to auction off are the puppies! They are not only precious, but they are an irresistible draw to bring in large sums of money for the counseling center. Another fun reason is the fact that Stuart and I know so many friends and family members in the audience, it is fun giving them “shout outs” from the stage and enticing them into giving to the cause!!
What motivates you to continue to support NFCC and mental health counseling?
My wife Alice and I have supported the Counseling Center every year since it opened. We believe in its’ mission to provide support for those individuals and families who need all types of counseling. We have had several friends and their children take their lives due to depression. We have tried to impress upon our children, Chuck and Becky, that giving back to the community is the right thing to do. I guess our talks have paid off as both of our children now serve on the NFCC Advisory Board!
What do you do to take care of your own mental health?
I try to take care of my mental health by praying every night to Jesus Christ, my Lord and my Savior and place my life in his hands. I try not to get bogged down and mentally burdened with the negatives in life and focus on the positives. I believe that if a person is “right” with God, he will take care of the rest. For every door that closes, another one will open!