Carter Myers Automotive is a proud sponsor of UVA, UVA Athletics, and everyone in our community who moves lives forward. Together with UVA Athletics, we created an award to honor those who give their time and talent, bring awareness to our community’s needs, and are constantly serving others. After being nominated by friends, family, and peers, two winners have been chosen:
Congratulations to Kara McClurken and Ben Houchens!
Kara McClurken, the Director of Preservation for UVA Libraries, is the Founder of Bennett’s Village, a nonprofit in Charlottesville working to bring an All-Abilities playground to Charlottesville in honor of her son, Bennett, who passed away in 2018. She wants to make movement accessible to everyone, no matter age or ability. She is working to build a multi-generational, all-abilities playground here in Charlottesville and advocating to change the way our community sees inclusion.
Ben Houchens is a part-time minister who has dedicated his life to helping adults in the Charlottesville community who are struggling and need it most. He started in 1986 working for Albemarle County Social Services where he helped low-income citizens receive public assistance benefits for 10 years. He moved from there to the Salvation Army homeless shelter where he worked as the Shelter Case Manager and then was promoted to Director. Now he’s at The Crossings, a residential facility in Charlottesville for previously chronically homeless adults.
We’re so grateful for everything they do in our community, and we can’t wait to see how they continue to move lives forward!
On behalf of CMA, we also surprised the winners & finalists with a donation of $1000 each in hopes that it will support and further enhance the amazing work that they are doing in the Charlottesville area
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