By Lisbet Newton | Houston City Beat
Mattress Mack compared customers to a truckload of diamonds, reminding business owners to recognize the value of the people they serve and never treat them as an interruption.
That message helped set the tone for the JVPNG Foundation’s inaugural gala at Gallery Furniture, where Jim McIngvale, better known as Mattress Mack, was the evening’s honoree. Houston City Beat attended at the invitation of Naomi Dingle to share the celebration and learn more about the foundation’s work in the Cy-Fair community.
Mack’s remarks focused on the daily habits behind a successful business: showing up early, staying late and bringing genuine care to every customer interaction. He described work as a source of purpose and encouraged business owners to give their customers the attention they deserve.
His message also reached beyond the workplace. Calling small businesses the backbone of the country, Mack encouraged local leaders to use their businesses as a force for good by supporting their neighbors, employees and community during difficult times.
From Business Connections to Community Support
That commitment to helping others connects closely with the JVPNG Foundation’s mission.
What began in 2011 as a group of Jersey Village business owners supporting one another has grown to include a charitable foundation serving families in Cy-Fair. The relationships built through networking now help bring businesses together around the needs of their community.
One example is the foundation’s Christmas Shop, scheduled for December 12. Families can register for $5 per child and select gifts for their children themselves, giving parents a direct role in choosing what their families receive.
According to the foundation, 62 businesses are hosting toy collection boxes to support the effort. Those collection sites give local businesses and their customers a way to help families during the holiday season.
Others can participate by hosting a collection box, donating toys or making a financial contribution. The foundation says every dollar stays in Cy-Fair, keeping that support close to home.
An Evening With a Purpose
The evening also gave Houston City Beat a chance to meet new people and reconnect with local business owners, including Ruben Mercado with Ipsum General Contractor, LLC, and Gilbert Castillo, president of Texasflooring and Renovations.
Backyard Grill provided catering for the gala. Houston City Beat extends a special thank-you to Gilbert Castillo and to Naomi Dingle for inviting us to share the evening and highlight the foundation’s work.
Mack’s message offered a connection between the celebration and the work ahead. Caring for customers, supporting employees and helping neighbors are choices business owners can make every day. The Christmas Shop gives the community a way to put that spirit of service into practice.
To learn more about the JVPNG Foundation, its Christmas Shop and ways to get involved, visit JVPNGFoundation.org.
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