Fueling Freedom to raise money for National Guard families

Fueling Freedom to raise money for National Guard families

On Friday, June 28, from noon-5 p.m., participating CountryMark fuel stations will host Fueling Freedom events in Indiana and Ohio.

During these events, CountryMark and participating CountryMark Branded Dealers will donate to local National Guard Family Readiness Programs 50 cents for every gallon of fuel pumped and $1 for every gallon of lubricants sold. Also at each Fueling Freedom site, on the day of the event, customers and guests will be able to register on June 28 to win a $150 Visa gift card.

CountryMark initiated the Fueling Freedom fundraiser four years ago as a way to support Indiana military families.

"Fueling Freedom is one of CountryMark's favorite events of the year," said CountryMark Vice President of Marketing Jon Lantz. "This is our opportunity to support our local National Guard troops. We are grateful for all they do to protect our country. It feels good to be able to help them and their families."

CountryMark Retail Manager Gary Barrett added that the event works well for the CountryMark brand because it's an American fuel company supporting American troops.

"CountryMark refines only American crude oil, and many of our customers buy CountryMark products because they prefer American-made fuels and what those domestic products do for the local economy," said Barrett. "All-American fuels supporting All-American troops just makes sense."

Traci Dinkens is the Family Readiness Support Assistant at the Shelbyville National Guard. She said the CountryMark fundraisers have been a huge help to her program and other National Guard Family Readiness programs in Indiana and Ohio.

"We use these dollars for a number of family activities, like summer picnics," said Dinkens. "Being married to, or the child of, a deployed soldier can be challenging. Summer picnics, and events like that, enable our troops to have a great day with their immediate families, as well as create ties to other military families who can support each other when soldiers are deployed."

A total of 29 CountryMark fuel stations, including the Greencastle station, have signed up to take part in Fueling Freedom 2013, a record number of stations for the fourth year of the event.

The Greencastle station is located at 1203 S. Bloomington St.

CountryMark is an American-owned oil exploration, production, refining and marketing company with headquarters in Indianapolis. The CountryMark refinery, located in Mt. Vernon, Indiana, processes 27,000 barrels of American crude oil per day. In addition to oil refining and logistics, CountryMark operates more than 1,400 oil wells, which produce daily 3,500 barrels of American crude oil. CountryMark fuels and a proprietary line of lubricants are sold through a distribution channel of member cooperatives that operate more than 180 fuel delivery routes and are responsible for more than 100 CountryMark branded fuel stations.