Joe Mullins hosted the annual ‘Shop with a Doc’ event at the Target at Mullins Crossing Shopping Centeron Tuesday, December 11 at 6:00 pm. The Mullins Companies raised money for this event to reunite pediatric burn victims with their doctors, and provide each child with a $200 holiday shopping spree.

Shop with a Doc is an annual program that provides holiday cheer to the 50-60 pediatric burn patients of the Joseph M. Still Burn Center at Doctors Hospital in Augusta, Georgia. Through donations and sponsorships, each child is allowed to shop for the items on their holiday wish list. They are accompanied by Burn Center physicians and staff, firefighters, and other volunteers as they eagerly shop and enjoy a visit from Santa. It is a fun-filled event that brings many smiles to these deserving patients and their families.

In attendance were Joe Mullins and Alyson Schwartz representing The Mullins Companies, and Joe’s brother, Dr. Fred Mullins who is Director of the Joseph Still Burn Center. The children arrived in style in stretch limos and were greeted by Santa upon arrival, before meeting their physicians and emergency care workers and shopping for their holiday wish lists.   

CEO Joe Mullins explained, “We started this event in 2002 and are now in our 15^th year. This idea came from an NFL event I used to do when I lived in Miami called ‘Shop with a Jock’. My brother overheard it and wanted to adapt it to the children he treats at the Doctors Hospital in Augusta, Georgia.”

“The ‘Shop with a Doc’ event is an opportunity for the children who were burned to spend time with their heroes and talk one-on-one with them outside of a professional manner. Many of them have never met their doctors before today, because they were so hurt. This really helps reacclimate these kids back into their communities, after surviving very traumatic events. So many burn victims feel alienated from others by their scars.”

He continued, “We had a choice to buy and give them gifts. I said ‘no’ and wanted to do something more personal. We purposely designed the event to take place in a public and a loving environment.”

“My first year, I ended up in tears when I realized how special this event is. The medical providers had to keep telling the children the toys and gifts were for them. It’s heartbreaking to see firsthand how emotionally timid many children become after suffering severe physical injuries.”   

Mullins shared, “This event is a way to bring them back to society and show them we still care and love them the same. We reinforce that they are the same sweet souls they were before they were burnt.”

He concluded, “It is also important to note that this event is really good for our doctors too. The first person we see when we come into this world is usually a doctor. We hold our doctors in high esteem. People don’t understand they are human too. Our doctors want and need this kind of human interaction and connection with those they serve as well.”

Joseph (Joe) F. Mullins is an entrepreneur from Augusta, Georgia leading multiple businesses focused on economical and charitable improvements throughout the Southeast, including renovating and restoring distressed properties across the region. Mullins is the founder and serves as CEO of The Mullins Companies - the parent company of Mullins Management Inc., Mullins Sports & Entertainment, and Mullins Properties. He received his BBA in Business Administration from the University of Georgia, and is a four-time recipient of the Bulldog 100 Award given to the top 100 growing companies led by a UGA graduate.

Joe Mullins has served, established and supported numerous charity events over the past two decades. His philanthropic efforts have raised millions of dollars for various charities and improved the quality of life in communities across the Southeast.

Earlier in the day, The Mullins Companies presented a $5,000 donation to the Christian Learning Centers of Augusta.