Category: The Benchmark Way

At Benchmark, we are driven by a set of core values that guide our everyday actions. The daily fulfillment of these Core Values drive what we call The Benchmark Way. Welcome to Benchmark. Welcome Home.

Most Patriotic Day in Texas Raises Money to Support Veterans

by I Am Benchmark

One Million Dollars Raised at Private Fundraising Events to Support Veterans

DALLAS, TEXAS – APRIL 21, 2017 – The sixth annual “Boot’n and Shoot’n” and “Boot’n and Salute’n Benefit Dinner” raised a record $1,000,000 to support military veterans.

Both events, sponsored by Benchmark Mortgage, a mortgage banker located in Plano, Texas, support the work of The Brain Treatment Foundation, Third Option Foundation, 22Kill, and the Dallas Fort Worth Fallen Officer Foundation. Kara Williams of the Brain Treatment Foundation stated, “The money raised will offer life-altering treatment programs to veterans that are otherwise unavailable through the VA. This will not only change the life of a veteran, but will also affect their families, their loved ones and the community they served. We are so honored to be a part of the most patriotic day in Texas.”

New this year was the addition of the Boot’n and Salute’n Benefit Dinner held on April 5, 2017. The dinner honored veteran heroes and their families with moving tributes and stories. The dinner also featured a stirring keynote address from retired US Army Lt. Col. Allen West and a live auction. To top off the evening, guests were treated to a private concert from Stoney LaRue. The Boot’n and Shoot’n event held on April 6, 2017, at the Dallas Gun Club featured a clay shooting competition that paired veterans and civilians for a few hours of fun followed by silent and live auctions and live music from Jon Wolf.

What started in as means to establish support for veterans and their families in the Dallas area has quickly grown into an event to honor and serve those from around the country who have given so much to so many. These events allow veterans and civilians to spend time with each other to build a community of support. Andrew Paul, Benchmark branch manager and former Navy SEAL, put it best when he said, “Honor your veterans and the fallen in how you live your life.” There is no better way to live than in serving others and offering gratitude to our service men and women.

Headquartered in Plano, Texas, Ark-La-Tex Financial Services, LLC d/b/a Benchmark Mortgage (Benchmark) is a full-service mortgage banker. The company, founded in 1999, operates retail origination branch offices nationwide. In living out Benchmark’s core values, our branch offices are committed to the communities they serve, promising thoughtful, responsive, and efficient service.

Benchmark Cares: Achievement Center of Texas

by I Am Benchmark

CORPORATE CHAMPIONS WHO CARE AWARD

The 2009 Corporate recipient of this prestigious award is Benchmark Mortgage and their co-founders. Two years ago, they created what is known as the Benchmark Loving Cup Fund which assists families and their special needs individuals to remain at the Achievement Center during hard economic times. This fund is based on one dollar contributed for every successful Benchmark transaction nationwide. Former Dallas Cowboy great, and FOX sports announcer, Daryl Johnston presented the award. Johnston received the first individual Champions Who Care Award in 2007 and is a true supporter of the Achievement Center of Texas.

first published at http://achievementcenteroftexas.org/champions-who-care/

While we do a lot of work to support our nation’s veterans, we also give to other philanthropic causes.

We have a fund called the “Benchmark Loving Cup Fund” for the Achievement Center of Texas. Marilynne Serie, Executive Director of the Achievement Center of Texas, recently gave us an idea of the reach of our fund in a letter thanking Benchmark for our support. Below is a sampling of the letter to show what it is that the Achievement Center of Texas does, and how the Benchmark Loving Cup Fund helps to support their cause.

“We served 6 students with funds from the Loving Cup which greatly helped them to afford the services here at the Achievement Center. Among the programs that we offered are functional living skills, personal health and hygiene, gardening, sensory motor training, arts exploration (both visual and performing arts), robotics (utilizing our newly acquired robot “Milo” who teaches children with autism). Researchers have found children with autism relate better to the robot than to a human. Our community inclusion program is designed to get students out into their community to experience a world of adventure. As part of this program, students participated recently in World Habitat Day where hey planted seeds, played challenging games, and had lunch with the people of Habitat for Humanity. This year they will visit the Heard museum to see the animals, they will visit a ranch, visit Springcreek Forest Preserve, and will see many new things that they never dreamed of seeing or experiencing…

..

..While we cannot give the names of the students due to strict confidentiality regulation, I am pleased to tell you that you have ben a godsend to these families. It is heart wrenching to tell a parent that we can’t take their child when they depend on us so heavily for our services which allows them to work to provide the high cost of care for their disabled family member. We hope that Benchmark will continue to help our families each year. It is a wonderful thing that you do.”

Marilynne Serie
Executive Director

To learn more about the Achievement Center of Texas, we have included a few snippets from their website, or you can visit their website by clicking the Achievement Center of Texas logo, or by clicking the URL below.

The Achievement Center of Texas is a licensed non-profit day care and day habilitation center for children and adults with special needs. Every effort is made to offer families their choices in services and to support those choices wherever possible. In providing a wide range of services in the least restrictive environment, students at the Achievement Center can grow and develop physically, intellectually, emotionally and socially working toward greater independence and more satisfying way of life.

Our goal is to teach individuals the skills they need to be able to participate in the life of the community and to enjoy the same opportunities available to their non-disabled peers and family members.

Q. Are scholarships available to low income families who do not have HCS or other agency support?
A. Yes. We have the Garland Community Development Block Grant Funds and Benchmark Loving Cup Fund. Each one has special restrictions and these funds are allocated quickly.

http://achievementcenteroftexas.org/

Benchmark To Sponsor Boot’n & Shoot’n 2014 Supporting Boot Campaign

by Benchmark

Benchmark is proud to announce they’ve teamed up with The Boot Girls and Boot Campaign to sponsor the Boot’n & Shoot’n 2014 charity event that will be held at the Dallas Gun Club on Friday, April 11, 2014. Benchmark is dedicated to helping wounded warriors receive the assistance they require upon returning from overseas. Another recipient of Operation Home Giveaway will be honored at this annual event.

About Boot Campaign

Started by five Texan women known as The Boot Girls, the Boot Campaign strives to thank and support the troops by encouraging everyone to join in and “Get YOUR Boots On™!”

By sporting combat boots with everyday clothing, the Boot Girls have created an open discussion about patriotism and ways to support the brave men and women who dedicate their lives to protecting America.

All proceeds are used to help over 50,000 wounded soldiers and their families by providing them with assistance for job placement, PTSD counseling, mortgage free homes, and other benefits they need in order to recover and live the life they deserve.

About Boot’n & Shoot’n

The Boot’n & Shoot’n is a fun filled charity event designed to raise the funds the Boot Campaign needs to continue bringing help to soldiers in need of assistance. There will be an auction, team shooting events, and Boots for sale! Don’t miss this opportunity to show tangible support for American troops who have sacrificed their own safety in order to ensure the safety of Americans everywhere.

Why Choose Benchmark

As the nation’s premier boutique mortgage company, Benchmark is proud to serve active duty military and veterans with VA Loans, and the civilian community with over 250 loan programs available. It’s only natural that they would further lend their support by sponsoring this event which benefits such a great cause.

The goal is to turn heroes into homeowners and improve the lives of those who have given so much to the American people.

By happily sponsoring the Boot’n & Shoot’n 2014 charity event, Benchmark is preserving their commitment to excellence and building great relationships within the communities they serve. When customers obtain a loan from Benchmark, the can feel confident knowing that they’ll be supporting a company dedicated to giving back to those in need while receiving the best in customer service and competitive loan rates.

Connect with Operation Home Giveaway at http://operationhomegiveaway.com.

Benchmark Gives Mortgage-Free Home to Wounded Veteran in Kentucky

by Benchmark

Operation Home Giveaway – an initiative between Benchmark Mortgage and Boot Campaign – continued its mission to turn heroes into homeowners with the first annual Boots in the Bluegrass charity event on July 1st. Held at the exclusive Keene Barn in Lexington, the event benefited the Boot Campaign who work to help wounded returning veterans, and raise awareness of the obstacles they face. The highlight of the day was the award of a mortgage free home to Louisville native Brett Durbin who was wounded while serving with the Marine Corps in Iraq.

Marty Preston is the branch manager for Benchmark Mortgage in Lexington saying “I’ve seen client after client literally cry with tears of joy because they won their own home and to be able to give a house that’s mortgage-free to a wounded warrior is such a huge honor.”

The Boot Campaign is a grass roots nonprofit organization that was started by five women in Texas to honor our returning military heroes and help them with their transition back into civilian life. Over 8,000 US military personnel have been killed and more than 50,000 injured serving our country since 2001, and the Boot Campaign encourages people to show support for them by wearing military boots. Wearing combat boots invites questions, and those questions often lead to people donning boots of their own. Since 2009 they have attracted thousands of supporters including Hollywood celebrities and star athletes.

The events of September 11 weighed heavily on the mind of Brett Durbin when he enlisted in the Marine Corps right after high school. He wanted to honor those who had fought and died before him, and he got his chance with two tours in Iraq. He was wounded by shrapnel from an RPG while on patrol near Fallujah in August 2004, and a diagnosis of PTSD means that he will probably never fully recover from his wounds. He saw eight of his comrades perish while in Iraq, and another two after returning home. In 2008, Corporal Durbin experienced firsthand the challenges that returning veterans face when he lost a good job because of his flashbacks and memory lapses.

Since then Brett has shown the resilience and courage that are the hallmarks of a Marine, and now he can enjoy the American dream with a home of his own. He was overwhelmed by the award of a mortgage free house, and he will turn it into a home with his wife Ashley, his eight year old daughter Kaelyn and his five year old son Jeremiah. Rounding out the Durbin family is a PTSD service dog named Eliza that Brett adopted last year.

Guests at Boots in the Bluegrass had a great time while honoring our veterans. In addition to delicious BBQ food and ice cold drinks they had a chance to hear live music performed by local duo Sundy Best. Nick Jamerson and Kris Bentley grew up in Prestonsburg, KY and delighted the crowd with their unique combination of country, bluegrass, rock and soul. The duo felt honored to be chosen to take part and spoke about human kindness and the help they have received on their own journey.

To find out more about Operation Home Giveaway visit http://OperationHomeGiveaway.com.