January 26 at the Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Florida, was packed with live music, food trucks, kids crafts and much more during a family fun day preceding a Jacksonville Icemen hockey game. The festivities supported a worthy cause: Ben’s Place, a charitable organization that helps adults who have developmental, physical or acquired disabilities. A longtime benefactor to Ben’s Place, Paul Davis pitched in to make the event a big success.
“Raising funds and awareness with community events is critical to Ben’s Place because it doesn’t use public funding,” says Al Whitaker, Vice President of Marketing for Paul Davis, “serving its clientele solely through membership fees, donations and partnerships. We’re proud to be an ongoing corporate partner and to contribute our time and energy to the cause. Also, a portion of the tickets sold will benefit the non-profit."
Founded in 2001 by the mother of Ben Shay, a young man with developmental disabilities, the organization offers adults like Shay a way to socialize and make friends with similar individuals, filling a social void that often develops after formal schooling ends for this group. Its 300 square-meters center, serving Northeast Florida, provides space for art, crafting, dancing, learning life skills, gardening and much more. It’s open 12 hours a day and five days a week for its members to come and go as they please. The ambitious undertaking keeps four part-time employees busy as well as six volunteers.
Paul Davis staff members are happy to lend helping hands. “We are proud to participate in giving back to our community and its residents with this worthy cause,” said Rich Wilson, Paul Davis Restoration Inc.’s President and CEO. “Our continuing philanthropy as a leading corporate team member in Jacksonville is a great way for us to participate in helping the non-profit and having fun. We focus on balancing our work life and volunteerism with a strong dedication to helping people in need.”
The entire Paul Davis company, across franchise offices in Canada and the United States, lead by example with innumerous charitable efforts and contributions. The company and its team members support a range of organizations such as the American Cancer Society, the Red Cross and Global Community Engaged Learning Project Uganda.
Contact Chris Thomas at Paul Davis, 1- 904.899.6149 or email chris.thomas@pauldavis.com to learn more about Ben’s Place.