FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Oct 06, 2010

For More Information,
Contact: Tami Hartmann
Moxley Carmichael
(865) 544-0088

Community Support Helps Pilot Celebrity Pumpers Event Raise $63,478 For United Way

“Pilot Celebrity Pumpers” raised $63,478 for United Way of Greater Knoxville, another fundraising record for the annual campaign. Since it began in 1992, the annual event has contributed more than $914,298 to United Way, funding programs to help those most in need in our community.

The event, held at all Knox County Pilot convenience store locations on Oct. 3-5, featured 74 local officials, celebrities and media personalities pumping gas and greeting customers to raise funds for United Way of Greater Knoxville’s 2011 campaign. During the three-day event, Pilot donated five cents for every gallon of gasoline sold and 10 percent of all in-store sales to United Way.

“This event is a great way for the whole community to get involved in helping support United Way,” said Pilot Chairman of the Board Jim Haslam. “We appreciate our many customers who stopped by the stores and made this donation possible. And we applaud our celebrity pumpers who took time out of their busy schedules to support this worthy cause.”

Celebrity pumpers gave customers a free travel mug during the event, and one lucky customer from each Pilot location won a $100 Pilot gas card during the event as well.

The program is United Way of Greater Knoxville’s single largest special-event fundraiser and a highlight of the campaign each year.

“Pilot Celebrity Pumpers has become a signature event for United Way. It helps to remind the community about our annual campaign and the important work United Way does in our community,” said United Way 2011 Campaign Chair Pam Fansler, East Region president of First Tennessee Bank. “It’s a team effort and my thanks go to the whole team; to Pilot for sponsoring this event, to the many celebrity pumpers who gave of their valuable time and to all the Pilot customers who participated.”

Headquartered in Knoxville, Tenn., Pilot operates 39 convenience stores in Tennessee.

For more information about Pilot, visit http://www.pilotflyingj.com.

United Way of Greater Knoxville is a local, independent organization dedicated to improving lives by building a better community. In partnership with 50 agencies, local business, community leaders and ordinary citizens, United Way tackles issues that matter most. By working together, United Way provides a safety net of services addressing Knoxville's most basic needs while working toward lasting change. For more information, please visit http://www.unitedwayknox.org.