CountryMark raises $54,000 for National Guard Family Readiness
Last Updated on July 7, 2015 by cassnetwork
CountryMark’s Fueling Freedom event on June 26 raised more than $54,000 to support local National Guard Family Readiness Groups.
Some 39 CountryMark-branded fuel stations in Indiana, Illinois and Ohio participated in CountryMark’s Fueling Freedom program, where CountryMark and local branded dealers agreed to donate a dollar for every gallon of lubricants sold and 50 cents for every gallon of fuel pumped to the local National Guard Family Readiness Groups. This is the seventh year, CountryMark and CountryMark branded dealers have hosted Fueling Freedom. Sales this year were up 10 percent from last year, as a result of more stations participating and more customers purchasing CountryMark fuels and lubricants.
The CountryMark station in Mitchell, Indiana, grew their Fueling Freedom sales numbers the most of any of the participating stations. This station, owned by White River Co-op, sold 2,331 gallons – a 68% increase in their Fueling Freedom sales numbers as compared to the previous year.
“A few rain showers may have hampered sales a bit, but overall we had no complaints. It was a successful day for all involved,” said White River Co-op Petroleum Department Manager Mike Riggins.
“We had great community support with active and retired military from other branches of the armed forces that wanted to help their brothers and sisters in arms and their families,” said Mark Burch, who was the site coordinator for North Central Co-op’s Logansport station. “You combine that with the event being sponsored by CountryMark and our local farmer-owned cooperative, and it just doesn’t get any more American than that!”
The Friends of the Military were also on hand during the CountryMark-sponsored events talking with the public about the support they give to the families of deployed troops. Countless customers threw the change from their fuel purchases in donation boxes. In five hours, participating communities raised $4,490 additional dollars to support American troops and their families.
The CountryMark station in Enfield, Illinois, generated $2,833 for their local National Guard Family Readiness Group, which was the largest amount raised by any of the 2015 Fueling Freedom sites.
CountryMark Retail Manager Gary Barrett agreed.
“It was a wonderful opportunity for us to share with the community our unique story about how CountryMark fuels are made from 100 percent American crude oil,” said Barrett. “We start with Illinois Basin crude oil. We refine the crude oil at our farmer-owned refinery in Mt. Vernon, Indiana, and deliver it to communities throughout the Midwest in the form of high quality gasoline and diesel fuels. It’s energy security. It’s American jobs. It’s a great American success story.”
The donations from the each participating Fueling Freedom site were given to the Family Readiness Groups at the National Guard unit closest to the fueling station. Family Readiness Groups support National Guard soldiers and their families.