Jazmin Ross
VALDOSTA — After three days of budget meetings, Larry Blumberg and Associates’ hotel general managers from Florida, Georgia, and Alabama got together to hammer out a building project with Habitat for Humanity. Their volunteerism is a result of Larry Blumberg and Associates’ Caring Associates Ready and Empowered to Serve (LBA CARES).
LBA CARES established a relationship with Habitat for Humanity when it started three years ago. Whenever Larry Blumberg and Associates general managers got together for a hotel opening or a business meeting, they contacted the local Habitat for Humanity to participate on a build or donate furniture. On this occasion, LBA CARES was working on putting the vinyl siding on a house for a local couple.
“The community has been so good to us, so we give back. It is the right thing to do,” said Regional Director Jon Bottone.
Mason Caracciolo, general manager of Valdosta Courtyard by Marriott, said that his staff is excited to work with Habitat for Humanity. He hopes that they can organize events where his employees can work with Habitat on either a weekly or bi-weekly
basis.
Beyond working on houses and donating furniture, LBA CARES hosts fund-raisers and holds car washes and candy drives to support Habitat for Humanity.
Larry Blumberg and Associates manage 10 hotels in the tri-state area including Courtyard, Residence Inn, SpringHill Suites and Fairfield Inn by Marriott, Hilton Garden Inn and Homewood Suites hotels.
