Mike and Marguerite Mumford, owners of Paul Davis Restoration of North Florida, are helping a Jacksonville homeowner restore his home.
In 2011, 77-year-old James Aldridge hired a contractor to repair a damaged roof and perform other home improvements.
The contractor was given close to $30,000 to complete a number of projects throughout the house. Shortly after being hired, the contractor did not return to the job.
The house was left with a leaking roof, torn-out kitchen, unusable bathroom and a hazardous carport connected to the house. The property was not safe enough for Aldridge to continue living there. He notified police and the contractor has been arrested.
However, the money was not recoverable and Aldridge could not afford to pay another contractor to complete the repairs. He has been living with a family friend while looking for a solution to his dilemma.
Aldridge found help from Paul Davis. The restoration firm decided to donate the home improvements through the company’s Restoring America program, which provides restoration and repairs to many residents in Northeast Florida.
The work will include demolition of the carport, replacement of rotten wood and stabilization of the structure, removing and replacing the roof, installation of kitchen cabinets, countertops and backsplash, rewiring circuits for appliances and installing a bathroom sink and toilet.
Paul Davis employees are volunteering and working alongside trade partners, including Stonebridge Construction, a local firm that donated materials to complete the roof.
“Each year, we partner with building professionals and support team members to restore a well-deserving candidate’s home within our community,” said Nate Moore, project manager with Paul Davis Restoration. “When we heard about what happened to Mr. Aldridge, we immediately knew he would be a perfect candidate and we are happy to help him.”
Paul Davis serves customers in Baker, Clay, Duval and Nassau counties. For more information, visit pdrestorationnf.com.
7th Gold Seal Award for River Garden
River Garden Hebrew Home for the Aged received a seventh Florida Governor’s Gold Seal Award for Excellence in Long-Term Care.
Of the more than 650 nursing homes in Florida, River Garden is the only skilled nursing and rehabilitation facility to earn the distinction seven consecutive times, and the only agency in Duval County to ever earn the award.
The award was presented to Marsha Pollock, president of the River Garden Home Board, and Loyd Lyle, president of the Resident Council, by Polly Weaver, chief of field operations for the Agency for Health Care Administration.
Created in 2002, the Gold Seal Program recognizes Florida nursing homes that “demonstrate excellence in long-term care over a sustained period, promote the stability of the industry and facilitates the physical, social, and emotional well-being of nursing home facility residents.” River Garden Hebrew Home has continuously earned the recognition since it was created in 2002.
River Garden is a five-star rated community by AHCA and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and a recipient of U.S. News & World Report’s “Best Nursing Homes” recognition in 2013 and 2014.
Stagliano hired as CFO for Communities In Schools
John Stagliano has been hired as chief financial officer of Communities In Schools of Jacksonville.
He received a bachelor’s degree from the U.S. Naval Academy and an MBA from Vanderbilt University.
After two tours in the Navy, Stagliano worked at Proctor & Gamble and Coach Services Inc., before becoming a mathematics teacher at Atlantic Coast High School.
Communities In Schools is a nonprofit that helps at-risk students stay on track to graduate.
“I believe that investing in education is the key to creating a better and brighter future for the next generation,” Stagliano said.
‘A Hope to Dream’ adds more sponsors
Ashley Furniture HomeStore and the Jacksonville Jaguars have gained the attention of Pepsi-Cola, Papa John’s and Xbox to help support their first “A Hope to Dream” stadium sleepover in London.
On Aug. 30, 100 children and their chaperones from London will spend the night at Wembley Stadium, sleeping in beds donated by Jacksonville’s Ashley Furniture HomeStore.
While at the stadium, the children will play on gaming consoles provided by Xbox. Members of The Roar will host a dance party for the children after they have pizza and drinks donated by Pepsi-Cola and Papa John’s Pizza.
The next morning, the beds will be delivered to the homes of the children who previously did not have a bed of their own.
The sleepover at Wembley is an expansion of the event started last year in Jacksonville. On Aug. 1, Ashley Furniture HomeStores hosted the second annual “A Hope to Dream” stadium sleepover at EverBank Field.
One hundred children joined Jaguars head coach Gus Bradley, his wife Michaela and Ashley Furniture HomeStore team members for a party and sleepover. The next morning, the beds were delivered to the children’s homes.
Ashley Furniture HomeStore-Jacksonville CEO and Managing Member Howard Fineman said taking “A Hope to Dream” to London is one more step forward for the program.
If you know of a child who needs a bed, submit your nomination at any Ashley Furniture HomeStore showroom, or online at ahopetodream.com.
Autobahn Indoor Speedway raising funds for veterans
Autobahn Indoor Speedway will host an American veterans’ fundraiser from 3-10 p.m. Sept. 10 to benefit the Armed Forces Foundation and Combat2College.
Military service members, veterans and dependents will register to win the grand prize, featuring a trip to Talladega Superspeedway in October including two weekend passes to the GEICO 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.
The prize package includes airfare, hotel accommodations, race tickets and travel funds. Other prizes will be available to those who visit Autobahn and register.
“Autobahn supports our military and wishes to share our love of racing by offering a chance at a once in a lifetime racing experience,” said Donald Wagner, general manager of Autobahn Indoor Speedway. “Racing fans can come out and sign up for a chance to win while at the same time supporting two very worthy organizations.”
The fundraiser will feature racing, raffle prizes and food from local vendors.
Autobahn Indoor Speedway will donate 50 percent of all racing revenue Sept. 10 to the Armed Forces Foundation, a nonprofit organization that offers assistance to active duty and retired military personnel, National Guard members, reservists and military families, and to Combat2College, a nonprofit organization that provides academic and social opportunities, as well as support services for veterans and active service members.
No purchase is necessary to participate. Contestants must be 18 or older to enter to win the grand prize.
For more information, visit autobahnspeed.com.
Clay County Animal Care and Control competing for $100,000
Clay County Animal Care and Control in Green Cove Springs is again at the top of the leaderboard in Division Two of the 2014 American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Rachael Ray $100K Challenge.
The shelter found homes for 629 pets during the first 60 days of the three-month competition, an increase of 298 animals saved over the same period in 2013.
Through Aug. 31, 50 animal shelters from across the country will work to increase adoptions to win a piece of the more than $600,000 in ASPCA prize grants, including a grand prize of $100,000.
“Clay County continued their hard work during the second month of the competition, participating in a mega adoption event and doing lots of adoption promotions,” said Bert Troughton, vice president of community outreach for the ASPCA.
The 50 contestants are working to save more animals during the months of June, July and August than they did over the same three-month period in 2013.
Last year’s competing shelters saved more than 56,000 cats and dogs during the contest, an increase of 12,050 over the same period in 2012.
The ASPCA and Rachael Ray will award a $100,000 grand prize to the shelter that achieves the greatest increase in lives saved during the three-month period.
The group that does the best job of engaging the community in helping to save more animals will win $25,000.
Organizations that do the best in their divisions will be eligible for between $10,000 and $25,000 in additional grants.
In total, $600,000 in grant funding will be awarded for increases in animal lives saved, as well as a photo contest and general participation.
For information, visit aspca.org/100K.