Four A Cause – Raising Awareness for Greater Portland’s Lesser Known Charities

By Tom Landry

Tom and Amy Landry on stage at Aura for the 2018 Four a Cause event.

Since I started Benchmark Residential & Investment Real Estate close to 15 years ago, I’ve made giving back to the community central to my business and personal mission. Benchmark gives 10% of profits each year to benefit local charities through sponsorships and our own events like Four a Cause, our third annual held this past November 30th.

Nonprofits share their mission and story with attendees.

It’s a free annual holiday party that benefits and celebrates four Greater Portland non-profits. Instead of simply raising money, the goal of the event is to raise awareness for the many smaller, locally-operated nonprofits whose work often goes unnoticed by the general public.

Benchmark hires No Umbrella Media to produce professional videos these organizations can use to promote themselves and premieres them at the event. This year over 400 people attended. As a locally owned small business owner, I know just how vital this type of awareness is to sustainability.

The Benchmark team! -All photos courtesy of Benchmark Residential and Investment Real Estate

Through an online video contest, the community choose the following nonprofits:

• Team Hailey Hugs, providing financial support for families battling childhood cancer.
• Special Surfers, sharing a love of surfing with children and young adults with special needs.
• Prosperity ME, offering financial literacy counseling for refugees, immigrants, asylees, and low-income individuals.
• The Healing Tribe, giving free body and energy work to people with anxiety, depression, and chronic pain.

Please visit www.fouracause.com to learn more about them or past years’ winners and view more photos from the event. Our community would not be the same without them and so many others like them.

Thank you for those who attended, and we look forward to seeing you next year.

TOM LANDRY

Tom Landry is owner of both Benchmark Residential & Investment Real Estate and CornerStone Building and Restoration. Learn more at www.benchmarkmaine.com.