Local Houston artist Jumper Maybach has partnered with the Montrose Center, Houston’s LGBT community center for “The 12 Days of Jumper” campaign. The project began December 13 and ends on Christmas Eve, December 24, with Jumper donating a portion of proceeds from the sale of holiday items and all artworks back to the Center.
Texas-born Ben Workman (AKA Jumper Maybach) was pushed to the breaking point after a lifetime of bullying and discrimination until the day he decided to fight back and something magical happened: Ben experienced an awakening that would change his life in a profound way. Enter Jumper Maybach, clown and abstract painter, the alter ego of Ben Workman. Through his newfound freedom of expression, Jumper uses art to spread his message of universal love and acceptance. It is an inspiring story of how one man finds the courage to fight for equality in the face of overwhelming adversity and, along the way, discovers his true identity.

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As a dedicated activist and philanthropist, Maybach has contributed significant time, beneficiary dollars and donations of artwork to numerous charitable organizations on local, regional and national levels and uses his artistic gifts and his celebrity status to further his humanitarian efforts. The benefiting organizations include GLAAD, The Foundation for Autism Care Education Services (F.A.C.E.S), Houston Pride and his current partnership with the Montrose Center.
“Montrose Center has programs that literally has helped so many LGBTQ people,” said Maybach. “Their outreach to the LGBTQ youth with their HATCH program has save many lives over the years. Their programs extend into health, U.S. Veterans (Lone Star) and now a senior retirement center under development. Montrose Center is an organization that I give my full support in helping any way I can.”
Established in 1978 as a safe and affirming place for lesbian and gay Houstonians to receive counseling, the Montrose Center has emerged as one of the nation’s leading full-service LGBTQ centers. The Montrose Center empowers the LGBTQ community and their families, to enjoy healthier and more fulfilling lives.
“Jumper Maybach has turned his discrimination and bullying experiences in to art that impacts LGBTQ youth through its message and through direct support of the Montrose Center Hatch Youth Program,” said Kennedy Loftin, chief development officer of the Montrose Center. “Jumper’s transformation is an inspiration to LGBTQ youth who are more than five times as likely to attempt suicide than their heterosexual peers. Jumper has been a long-time supporter of the 30-year-old HATCH Youth Program which serves more than 700 LGBTQ youth each year.”
Montrose Center provides a variety of services including counseling, substance abuse treatment, support and advocacy for LGBTQ survivors of violent crimes, care and assistance for people with HIV/AIDS, free community wellness programs and activities, and programs for Houston’s most vulnerable and isolated—youth and seniors. For more information, please visit MontroseCenter.org.