Through his charitable efforts, dedication to the community and positive reputation as a businessman, Mike Cummings has carried a lot of respect and admiration throughout this area for years. Friday night, the Bethany-Fenwick Area Chamber of Commerce recognized Cummings for his efforts.
Coastal Point • SUSAN LYONS
Mike Cummings, far right, receives The Lighthouse Award from jeweler Dale Bellinger (who designed the pin) and Kevin Brady, far left.
Cummings was awarded The Lighthouse Award at the Chamber’s annual installation and awards dinner at Cripple Creek Golf & Country Club. The award, according to Bethany-Fenwick Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Karen McGrath, is in recognition of service both to the Chamber and the community as a whole, and is for a lifetime of service, rather than just over the past year.
“In my experience, people who really get things done are the ones that see something needs to be done and they do it,” said McGrath. “Mike is just one of those guys. If he sees something or someone needs help, he runs out to give help.”
From Oct. 2002 to Sept. 2003, Cummings served as president of the Chamber’s board of directors. It was at that time that he started suggesting ways to remodel and expand the Chamber’s building to better accommodate the staff and the public they serve.
He also took an interest in aiding the staff in other ways. Before Hurricane Isabel made its way up the shore in 2003, Cummings sent someone from his company, Miken Builders, to board up the Chamber’s windows, and coordinated with McGrath where all the Chamber staff members would be located during the storm so everyone could be accounted for if Isabel hit hard.
“That’s Mike Cummings,” said McGrath, “he’s always worried about other people.”
Cummings also gets credit for his work with Contractors for a Cause — a group of local builders who have united to raise money for a variety of projects.
The organization started out by holding an annual golf tournament to raise money for diabetes research and care, and has branched out over the past few years to team with the Justin W. Jennings Foundation to help build Justin’s Beach House in Bethany Beach. That house will allow cancer patients to come spend time at the beach with their families.
Cummings said that all the people who work with Contractors for a Cause, as well as his wife, Kathy, figure into the award.
“Kathy and I have been involved in a lot of things over the years,” explained Cummings. “It hasn’t just been me. Plus, when you think about what all these contractors do as far as their free time and the money they contribute, it’s just amazing.
“When we were going through the final planning approvals in Bethany for Justin’s Beach House, one of the officials said that it’s unusual for a group of developers to come together for something that doesn’t have a profit,” he said. “And, it really is. I can’t say enough about those guys.”
As for the future, Cummings said he really would like to get Justin’s Beach House up and running and that Contractors for a Cause have other projects in mind down the road.
“We really want to keep contributing to the community,” said Cummings. “We’ve been talking about building shelters for battered women and families of abuse. There’s just so much we want to do over the next 20 years and beyond.”
Don’t count him out… plus, he’s an easy guy to root for in these things.
“There really aren’t that many people in the world that you can honestly say, ‘He’s just a really good person,’” said McGrath. “Mike is one of those people. Just a really nice person.”