A local convenience store company today donated $10,000 to Beaufort County schools as part of an ongoing promotion at its outlets.

Parker’s, which operates 36 convenience stores in Georgia and South Carolina, said the proceeds came from its “Fueling the Community” program.  That promotion gives one cent of every gallon of gas sold on the first Wednesday of each month to local schools.

About $2,300 of the Parker’s donation goes to fund the school district’s annual “Support Person of the Year” recognition program, which honors school nurses, social workers, bookkeepers, office managers, teacher assistants, school secretaries, and technology and data specialists.  The rest goes to specific schools designated by Parker’s “Pump Pal Club” regular customers when they purchased their gasoline.

“We’re deeply committed to giving back to every community where Parker’s does business,” said Greg Parker, president and CEO of Parker’s. “I truly believe education is the rising tide that lifts all boats. Education helps make Beaufort County a stronger community, reduces crime and increases opportunity for young people.”

Parker noted that Beaufort High School was the No. 1 school in “Pump Pal” revenues for 2014 in all of the markets that Parker’s serves, while Beaufort Elementary School was the No. 1 elementary school.

Parker’s launched its charitable initiative in 2011 and has donated money to public and private schools in every community where Parker’s does business.

Superintendent Jeff Moss accepted the donation on behalf of the school district.

“Our partnership with Parker’s just keeps getting better and better,” Moss said, “As Parker’s grows, its support for schools grows, and that’s a wonderful thing to see.”

Parker’s has been ranked on Inc.’s elite list of the top 5,000 fastest-growing private companies in the U.S. for three consecutive years and has opened eight new stores over the past year.  Parker has been honored by Convenience Store News as the Tech Executive of the Year and by the Savannah Chamber of Commerce as the Entrepreneur of the Year.