CARY, N.C. -- The Pantry Inc. said that it has raised more than $1 million for Victory Junction, funds that will send more than 400 children ages six to 16 with chronic medical conditions or serious illnesses to summer camp. During its fourth annual fundraiser, Kangaroo Express collected donations throughout March at more than 700 stores in North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia, with partnership support from Coca-Cola.
Kangaroo Express and Coca-Cola recently presented a check to Victory Junction during the recent NASCAR All-Star Race and Coca-Cola 600 in Charlotte, N.C., on May 19, 2012.
Victory Junction was founded in 2004 by Kyle and Pattie Petty in honor of their late son Adam. The camp relies solely on donations from individuals and corporations like Kangaroo Express to give children a once in a lifetime camping experience. It costs $2,500 to send one child to camp for a week at no cost to his or her family.
"Victory Junction continues to capture the hearts of Kangaroo Express guests and employees more and more with each consecutive year," said John Fisher, senior vice president of marketing, merchandising and restaurant operations for Kangaroo Express. "Nothing makes this more evident than their continuous generosity as donations continue to exceed those of the year before. Kangaroo Express is proud to be able to help send hundreds of kids to camp every summer."
Additional funds were raised through the sale of Mars candy at Kangaroo Express, including M&M's and Snickers. For every Mars candy sold through April 30, 2012, $0.10 went to support Victory Junction.
"Coca-Cola is delighted to once again present a substantial donation to Victory Junction in partnership with Kangaroo Express," said Denny Walton, director of convenience for Coca-Cola Refreshment. "Victory Junction provides a positive, ongoing impact on the children and families that attend camp. It is an honor for Coca-Cola to support such a vibrant organization making a difference in the communities we serve."
Kangaroo Express stores in Charleston, S.C., first began raising funds for Victory Junction in 2009 and have since expanded to three states. Support for credit-card donations started in 2011, which helped to more than triple the total donations from the previous year.
"Victory Junction provides an experience of enrichment and camaraderie to children from across the country, and we are so appreciative that once again this campaign will help us see as many children as we can in 2012," said Brooke Hondros, director of development for Victory Junction. "No family incurs the expense of sending a child to camp due to the generous support of our volunteers and corporate donors like Kangaroo Express and Coca-Cola."
Additionally, Kangaroo Express has pledged a continuing partnership mirroring its efforts of the 2012 campaign, and will be the supporting partner of Victory Junction's 10th Anniversary of Summer Camp in 2013.
Based in Cary, N.C., The Pantry is a leading independently operated convenience store chain in the southeastern United States and one of the largest independently operated c-store chains in the country. As of May 7, 2012, it operated 1,607 stores in 13 states under select banners, including Kangaroo Express, its primary operating banner.
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