PALM COAST, Fla – At an evening filled with music, excitement, and community spirit at the Fitzgerald Performing Arts Center, one local couple once again proved that generosity never goes out of style.
“My wife Judy, and I are the owners of BEDTOPS Mattress, and we’re giving away a queen adjustable bed tonight,” Gary Lemay shared with a smile as he watched eager patrons fill out the tickets. The prize—a mattress set valued at “somewhere around $1,500”—was more than just a giveaway. It was a reflection of the Lemays’ ongoing commitment to giving back to the Palm Coast community.
Inside the venue, anticipation buzzed as attendees talked about dropping their names into the drawing.
“It’s crazy. Tons of people are coming over and filling out the tickets,” said BEDTOPS Mattress store manager Keith Raimundo, describing the overwhelming response.
For the Lemays, this kind of excitement is exactly the point. “It’s awesome. We love doing this. We’re gonna do it again next year,” Gary said, recalling a memorable giveaway from the previous year during the Peter Noone and Hermit’s Hermits show that unexpectedly made someone’s Christmas come early.
But their connection to the event—and the venue—runs deeper than a single night. “Oh, it’s beautiful here. This is like going to Vegas. It’s beautiful,” Gary said of the performing arts center, sold out for The Eagles tribute show.
Judy Lemay echoed that sentiment, emphasizing their passion for community involvement. “As a business, we always want to be part of the community and do the best that we can,” she said.
That opportunity, she explained, came through their relationship with Fitzgerald Performing Arts Center director Amelia Fulmer.
“She works so hard to bring these beautiful shows to this venue… When the shows are over, I always watch everybody outside, and everybody’s always smiling and singing and happy… I have to remind myself, I’m not in Las Vegas. I’m in Palm Coast… Isn’t this the greatest little place in the whole world?”
When the winning name was finally announced, the moment was met with disbelief and joy. “Oh, I’m shocked. I never figured I would win,” said Susan Rotella, still processing her good fortune. Reflecting on the gesture, she added, “Oh, I think it’s truly amazing. In this small little town…”
For Amelia Fulmer, the Lemays’ generosity comes as no surprise.
“Well, first of all, they’re very down-to-earth people. I trust them a lot. They’re very trustworthy, and I would recommend anyone to go there,” she said, emphasizing that their support goes far beyond sponsorship.
Fulmer shared how the couple has quietly made a difference in other ways, from helping distribute free tickets to military shows to offering high-quality mattresses at affordable prices.
“They want to be out there because they want to save people money on mattresses,” she explained. “They are just as good as any high retail store… that’s just part of who they are.”
