Donation via holiday pinups to help kids and adults with Muscular Dystrophy, ALS and related neuromuscular diseases.
GPM Investments LLC closed out another year fundraising for the Muscular Dystrophy Association with help from customers.
For GPM Investments LLC, 2018 marked its 8th holiday pinup campaign at approximately 1,400 store locations throughout the East Coast and Midwest, including Admiral, Apple Market, BreadBox, E-Z Mart, fas mart, Jiffi Stop, Jiffy Stop, Li’l Cricket, Next Door Store, 1-Stop, Roadrunner Markets, Scotchman, shore stop, Village Pantry and Young’s branded-convenience stores.
GPM, with the support of its customers, worked together to raise $244,263 for kids and adults living with muscular dystrophy, ALS and related neuromuscular diseases. Throughout GPM’s partnership with the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA), beginning in 2011, they have raised a total of more than $1.38 million.
“GPM is committed to help give local kids with neuromuscular diseases the life changing experience of MDA Summer Camp where they can explore a world of independence,” said Arie Kotler, GPM Investments LLC, president and CEO. “We are grateful to our generous customers and store employees for their donations and time, providing us the ability to make a positive impact on the lives of individuals living with muscle dystrophy in our communities.”
Throughout the month of December, approximately 1,400 GPM-operated stores participated in the fundraiser in which customers purchased an MDA pinup at checkout for a $1 contribution to help accelerate treatments and cures for muscle disease. Each customer who purchased a pinup received coupons as GPM’s way of saying “thank you” for their customers’ generosity. All signed pinups were then prominently displayed in each store. Kotler, and Chris Giacobone, chief operating officer, presented the generous check of $244,263 together at fas mart store #1 in Richmond, Va. to Joel Shaw, Louise Zingaro, executive director of MDA of Greater Virginia and Niki Benfield, Care and Clinical Services Specialist.
“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’s multidisciplinary Care Centers at top hospitals – VCU, Children’s Hospital of Richmond (CHOR), UVA, Children’s Hospital of Kings Daughters (CHKD), and Carilion Clinic of Roanoke and so much more,” said Zingaro. With the help of the communities and local associates participating in this program, MDA is able to fund ground-breaking research and provide critical services to our families who are counting on us, paving a new path forward in understanding muscular dystrophy, ALS and related neuromuscular diseases and enabling innovations in research, treatment and care.
