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ACV Dedicates New and Renovated Facilities
Phillips Center, J.R. Smith Center, Ann & Quinton Rumph Dining Room and the James W. and Marie C. Watkins Woodworking & Lapidary Shop
DOWLING PARK, FL— A crowd gathered under warm, sunny skies on October 3, 2008, to dedicate the newly expanded Phillips Center, J.R. Smith Center Renovations, the Ann & Quinton Rumph Dining Room and the James W. and Marie C. Watkins Woodworking & Lapidary Shop. The projects were part of the 90th Anniversary campaign, which raised $5 million for the facilities that were dedicated that day, as well as the Copeland Medical
Center, which has been in operation for 2 years.
Addressing the crowd at the ceremony, Chairman of the ACV Board of Directors, Bill Nickerson said, “This is a Dowling Park miracle made possible by God, through generous donors and skilled craftsmen.”
President and CEO Craig Carter stated, “It was 43 years ago on this same site that Phillips Civic Center was dedicated. We remain forever grateful to Edwin and Catherine Phillips for their generous gift for the original construction of this facility. We continue to pay tribute to them through the name of this facility, which will remain Phillips Center.”
Within Phillips Center is the beautifully appointed Ann & Quinton Rumph Dining Room. The new dining facility offers versatility, efficiency and a pleasant atmosphere. The Dining Room was made possible by a generous donation from Quinton Rumph, in memory of his wife Ann.
Also dedicated were the renovations to the J. Ralph Smith Center, originally dedicated in 1975, as the J. Ralph Smith Health Center, ACV’s skilled nursing facility. The renovations turned the space that was formerly the Copeland Clinic into an office suite for Member Services, as well as updating the Village Information Center, formerly known as the Village Switchboard.
Finally, in anticipation of its nearing completion, the James W. and Marie C. Watkins Woodworking & Lapidary Shop was dedicated. Made possible by a generous bequest by the Watkins, the facility offers to Village members a state of the art woodworking shop. Jim Watkins was an avid lapidarian, or a person who cuts, polishes and engraves precious stones, so provision was made to offer lapidary equipment within the shop as well. Village members are planning their first projects as they eagerly await the opening of the shop. 
Following remarks from Jim Schenck, ACV Vice President of Village Properties and Michael Chaloult, Architect for the Phillips Center project, The Honorable Tom Kennon, member of the ACV Board of Directors, accepted the buildings for dedication. Retired President and CEO Jim Humbles offered the Prayer of Dedication. At the close of the ceremony, President Craig Carter gave expressions of gratitude for each of the generous donors who made the construction and renovations possible.
Following the ceremony, guests were invited to a Reception in Rumph Dining Room and an Open House in each of the new facilities.