Fueling the Cure

Information in this post was taken from a press release distributed about this program. Photos are courtesy of Betty Thornton, Heritage Cooperative.

Three Ohio cooperatives deployed pink propane delivery trucks this month in a unique partnership to support the Stefanie Spielman Fund for Breast Cancer Research at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center - James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute.

"All of us have been affected by cancer in some way," said Eric Parthemore, Heritage Cooperative CEO. "We hope that Fueling the Cure propane delivery trucks can serve as a gentle reminder to people how important cancer research is for all Ohio families and encourage our customers, employees, and communities to join us in giving."

Heritage Cooperative employees pose beside a pink propane truck at the kick-off event for "Fueling the Cure." From left to right: Ray Etgen, energy manager; Jamie Conley, propane driver/sales representative; Cathie Olejniczak, energy coordinator; Eric Parthemore, CEO; John Dunbar, COO; and Keith Bailey, energy specialist.

Each of three cooperatives - United Landmark, London, Ohio; Southwest Landmark, Xenia, Ohio; and Heritage Cooperative, West Mansfield, Ohio - has committed to make a minimum of $10,000 corporate donation to the Stefanie Spielman Fund for Breast Cancer Research by October 2010. In most cases, the amount will be based on a donation of $1 per delivery stop from October 2009-October 2010. In addition, the cooperatives have set a goal to raise $5,000 in donations by employees and customers during the year-long campaign and help The James establish 50 new donor-benefactor relationships.

Jamie Conley (left) and Eric Parthemore at the kick-off event. Conley is the only female propane driver/sales representative among the three sponsoring cooperatives. She will drive the Fueling the Cure truck for Heritage Cooperative, in memory of her mother-in-law and in honor of her sister and several customers who are breast cancer survivors.

Each cooperative is donating in-kind use of a brand new pink propane delivery truck to serve as a roving billboard for the campaign. Each of the cooperatives' other delivery trucks will have a Fueling the Cure decal on the truck tank or door.

The campaign website at http://www.fuelingthecure.org/ will track donations with a fuel gauge that will be updated at least monthly.

Proud Ohio State fans create the "Block O" at the kick off ceremony. From left to right: Eric Parthemore; E. Gordon Gee, president of The Ohio State University; John Dunbar; and Thad Dixon, propane manager of United Landmark.