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<p>A local convenience store company last week donated $27,000 to Beaufort County schools as part of an ongoing promotion at its outlets.</p>
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<p>Parker’s, which operates 56 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.</p>
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<p>Some of the Parker’s donation goes to support 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. Other funds go to specific schools designated by Parker’s “Pump Pal” customers when they purchase their gasoline on the first Wednesday of each month.</p>
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<p>"At Parker's, we're committed to giving back to the Beaufort County community and supporting local schools through our Fueling the Community program," said Parker's founder and CEO Greg Parker. "We know education has the power to transform lives, reduce crime and expand opportunities. We're grateful to all the Beaufort County School District teachers, administrators and staff who work hard every day to support student success in the classroom."</p>
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<p>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.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>
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<p>Interim Superintendent Herb Berg accepted the donation on behalf of the school district.</p>
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<p>“This generosity we see from Parker’s every year is really impressive,” Berg said. “Over the past five years, they have donated nearly $100,000 to district schools, and that’s a solid investment in our kids.”</p>
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<p><em>Above: Parker’s founder and CEO Greg Parker, right, presented a check for $27,000 to Beaufort County Schools at a school board meeting on March 19, 2019. Beaufort County School Board Chair Dr. Christina Gwozoz, left, accepted the donation on behalf of the school district.</em></p>
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