Nearly $50,000 raised for McElrathbey brothers

CLEMSON, S.C. - Nearly $50,000 has been raised so far to help Clemson freshman Ray Ray McElrathbey raise his 11-year-old brother, Fahmarr, with contributions from across the country, including an NBA player and REM&#39;s manager.<br> <br> Jenny Sullivan of First Citizen&#39;s Bank of Clemson, where the trust fund was established, said along with the higher profile donors have come a grade-school girl stapling her $1 allowance to a contribution from her mother.<br> <br> ``It restores my faith in human beings,&#39;&#39; Sullivan said Monday.<br> <br> McElrathbey took custody of Fahmarr this summer because of their mother&#39;s continuing problems with drugs. The elder McElrathbey said he wanted his younger brother near him and not returned to foster care.<br> <br> The school announced the trust fund for the McElrathbeys on Sept. 19, about a week after the NCAA granted a waiver to allow the brothers to receive help and not violate rules against extra benefits.<br> <br> Attorney Chris Olson, who has overseen donations until the trust fund could be enacted at First Citizens, said the latest account total was $48,619.<br> <br> The trust department at First Citizens would take over the fund&#39;s administration when the agreement was finalized, said bank senior vice president Bill Harley.<br> <br> Trustees would pay bills and handle disbursements to help Fahmarr. Harley said there will be strict rules about spending and a detailed accounting of trust moneys. Harley said the McElrathbeys won&#39;t be able to ``come in anytime and get $200,&#39;&#39; he said, The rules ``will be tight.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> Clemson athletic director Terry Don Phillips and Olson expected the trust agreement finished and official within days.<br> <br> Sullivan, who assists Harley, says the bank gets about 30 to 35 donations a day, most attached with letters of support for Ray Ray and Fahmarr.<br> <br> Harley said one recent donation included the young girl&#39;s dollar bill stapled to a check. ``It&#39;s really neat to see,&#39;&#39; he said.<br> <br> Harley wouldn&#39;t disclose the name of the NBA player who donated other than to say he was a former Atlantic Coast Conference player ``who was not connected to Clemson.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> A U.S. soldier overseas also sent in a donation, Harley said, after reading about Ray Ray and Fahmarr.<br> <br> ``We get a bunch of those a day,&#39;&#39; he said.<br> <br> Bertis Downs IV, the counsel and manager for REM, said he heard of the McElrathbey&#39;s situation and sent in a ``small donation.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> ``I was so touched by it, I wanted to help,&#39;&#39; Downs said. ``It touches so many areas, family, education. It&#39;s something special.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> The McElrathbeys share an off campus apartment and live off Ray Ray scholarship funds and what he can pick up cutting grass or doing other odd jobs, the elder McElrathbey has said.<br> <br> The NCAA&#39;s waiver allowed Clemson personnel to help with Fahmarr&#39;s transportation to R.C. Edwards Middle School and around town, and to offer care while Ray Ray was traveling with the team.<br> <br> Harley expected the fund to grow into quite a sizable trust. ``Do the math on this,&#39;&#39; he said. If Clemson got contributions of $100 for the McElrathbeys from a tenth of its 21,000 or so members of IPTAY, its athletic booster group; it would total more than $200,000.<br> <br> ``I think that would be pretty good,&#39;&#39; Harley said.<br> <br> Phillips, Clemson&#39;s AD, said he planned to make a donation and did not think the NCAA&#39;s guidelines prevented Clemson personnel, football coaches or others from contributing.<br> <br> Right now, Phillips is happy with the initial public response to the McElrathbeys.<br> <br> ``I think it&#39;s tremendous and it goes beyond our borders,&#39;&#39; Phillips said. ``It&#39;s gratifying that people have heard the story and want to be helpful.&#39;&#39;