Celebrating the longstanding support of Mike & Ann Beall and honoring Mike’s mother, Ethel.
Sometimes a childhood memory lasts a lifetime – and impacts decisions many years later. That’s what happened for Mike Beall, Executive Vice President at Davenport & Company.
Mike’s mother, Ethel S. Beall, worked as a special education teacher in the Petersburg Public School system. Mike remembers visiting his mother’s classroom and learning about children with disabilities and the obstacles that they and their families faced.
As a teenager in Key Club, he also volunteered in the Children’s Pavilion at Central State Hospital. These early experiences stuck with Mike and came flooding back when he heard about SOAR365.
His first introduction to SOAR365 was through Summer Camp. “My wife Ann and I were moved, not only by the opportunity for children and adults with disabilities to have a traditional camp experience but also by the respite element for parents and caregivers,” says Mike.
The Bealls became involved with SOAR365 in 2014 as donors. Over the years, they learned more about SOAR365’s many programs and services. “During a recent visit to Bellwood, I got to meet some of SOAR365’s employees with disabilities. I was impressed by the great work they do, all while earning a living and gaining personal satisfaction. What a great win-win model!” says Beall.
In fact, the Bealls appreciate all of SOAR365’s employees. “Staff who make the decision to dedicate their careers to a mission-driven organization are special individuals. They deserve not only our gratitude but our support,” says Ann Beall.
The Bealls continue to support SOAR365, with Mike currently serving on the Risk & Compliance Committee of the Board of Directors.
“The more we learned about SOAR365, the more our desire to support it increased – and now we are working on getting others to do the same,” says Beall.
To learn more about how you can volunteer with SOAR365, click here. And if you’d like to make a donation to SOAR365, click here.