Kangaroo Express Hits $1M Fundraising Goal
CARY, N.C. -- With a month still left in the campaign, Kangaroo Express announced Monday that its fourth annual Salute Our Troops campaign has already reached its $1 million fundraising goal.
Donations are being collected through the more than 1,520 Kangaroo Express convenience stores operated by The Pantry Inc. across 13 states in the southeastern United States. The stores will continue to invite customers to make donations through Labor Day, ending Sept. 2.
The monies raised will support the American Red Cross Service to Armed Forces, providing emergency communications, comfort and assistance to military, veterans and their families; Fisher House Foundation, donating “comfort homes” at major military and VA medical centers that enable military families to be close to a loved one during hospitalization; the U.S. Veterans Corps, a corps of military veterans, spouses, dependents and patriotic citizens performing hands-on community service with a mission and deployment attitude; and six state-based military support organizations.
The state-based organizations benefiting from this year's campaign span five states throughout the Southeast and include the Enlisted Association of the National Guard of Tennessee Auxiliary Soldier Airman Relief Fund; Florida National Guard Foundation; Georgia National Guard Family Support Foundation; Soldiers and Airmen Assistance Fund of North Carolina; South Carolina Military Family Care Association; and the USO of North Carolina.
“We are thrilled that for the fourth year in a row, our employees and guests have shown their appreciation for these great military cause organizations in droves, once again reaching the $1 million fundraising goal prior to the end of summer,” said Gordon Schmidt, senior vice president of operations for Cary-based Kangaroo Express. “We are rallying behind our guests and employees to see what else we can accomplish in the final weeks of the campaign.”
For the first time, the chain's summer-long initiative is holding Salute Our Troops “ROO Rides,” motorcycle charity rides to drive hometown support and recognize military heroes and families in local communities along the route. A schedule can be found at www.KESalute.com.
Since its launch in 2011, Kangaroo Express’ annual Salute Our Troops campaign has raised $8.4 million, breaking fundraising records for many of its beneficiary organizations.
The Pantry is one of the nation’s largest convenience store chains and the leading independently operated chain in the southeastern U.S. More than half of its Kangaroo Express stores are located within 25 miles of a military installation.