CountryMark donates more than $62,000 to National Guard

On Friday, June 22, Premier Companies participated in CountryMark’s 10th annual Fueling Freedom event. The event raised more than $62,000 to support local National Guard Family Readiness Groups.

“These events were an opportunity for the community to come out and express their appreciation to local service men and women, and their families,” said CountryMark Director of Marketing Belinda Puetz. “Military professionals, as well as their loved ones, make huge sacrifices on our behalf. Fueling Freedom provided a venue for many of us to say ‘thank you’.”

During Fueling Freedom events, CountryMark employees and CountryMark branded dealers stand side-by-side with volunteers from local National Guard units to pump locally refined fuels for customers.

Thirty-nine CountryMark-branded fuel stations in Indiana and Ohio participated in CountryMark’s Fueling Freedom program this year. CountryMark and local branded dealers 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 (FRG).

“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 Puetz. “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 is energy security, and a great American success story.”

Donations from each participating Fueling Freedom site were given to the National Guard Family Readiness Groups located closest to the participating fueling station. Family Readiness Groups help build National Guard unit morale, build unit retention and increase participation levels in family-related unit activities.