Holiday pinup campaign helps kids with muscular dystrophy.

For GPM Investments LLC the 2017 holiday season was a time to give back and support those in need.

Approximately 1,000 convenience store locations throughout the East Coast and Midwest, including Admiral, Apple Market, BreadBox, fas mart, Jiffi Stop, Jiffy Stop, Li’l Cricket, Next Door Store, Roadrunner Markets, Scotchman, shore stop, Village Pantry, and Young’s branded- stores, along with their customers, worked together to raise $169,469 for kids living with muscular dystrophy as part of the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) holiday pinup campaign.

Throughout GPM’s partnership with MDA, beginning in 2011, they have raised more than $1.14 million total. The 2017 holiday pinup campaign brought GPM over the $1 million mark in support of MDA’s shared mission to support people whose abilities to move have been compromised by neuromuscular disease, including everyday abilities like walking, running, hugging, talking and even breathing.

“GPM is delighted to partner with MDA to help give local kids with neuromuscular disease the experience of a lifetime at MDA Summer Camp where they can experience a world of limitless possibilities,” said Arie Kotler GPM Investments LLC, president and CEO. “We are truly thankful for our incredibly generous customers and store employees for their donations and time which allows us to directly impact the lives of individuals living with muscle dystrophy in this community.”

Funds will help save and improve the lives of kids and adults with muscular dystrophy, ALS and related life-threatening diseases throughout the company’s store footprint. Thanks to recent major medical and scientific advancements, including the development of four new drugs that are now available treatment options, it is currently the most promising time in the history of neuromuscular disease research and medical advances ― made possible in part by the funds raised and support given over the years to the MDA Shamrocks program.

Throughout the month of December, approximately 1,000 GPM-operated convenience stores participated in the fundraiser in which customers purchased an MDA pin-up at check-out for a $1 contribution to help accelerate treatments and cures for muscle disease. Each customer who purchased a pinup received six coupons as GPM’s way of saying “thank you” for their customers’ generosity. All signed pinups were then prominently displayed in each store. GPM executives Arie Kotler, president and CEO, and Chris Giacobone, chief operating officer, presented the generous check of $169,469 together at fas mart store #1 in Richmond, Va. to MDA Ambassadors, Karen Haley-Wingate, Joel Shaw and Allyson Elliott.

“The generous support over the years from GPM Investments’ customers and employees directly improves the lives of local MDA families by allowing them the opportunity to attend MDA Summer Camp, have access to MDA Care Centers and so much more,” said Louise Zingaro, executive director MDA of Greater Virginia. “With the help of the communities and local associates participating in this program is MDA to able to fund ground-breaking research and provide critical services to our families who are counting on us. With recent scientific advances, it’s critical to continue funding research to help all families living with muscular dystrophy grow stronger and live longer.”