BECKLEY, W.Va. -- Little General Stores has pledged to donate $50,000 a year to Remember The Miners, a nonprofit organization dedicated to honoring coal miners and their legacy through public awareness campaigns and charitable contributions.
At a press conference held at a Little General convenience store in Beckley, W.Va., earlier this month, speakers included Remember The Miners honorary chairman and West Virginia University men's basketball coach Bob Huggins, Little General Stores president Greg Darby and Remember The Miners president Jason Parsons.
Little General has been a supporter of Remember The Miners through several partnerships in the past. With the Magnet Awareness Program, Little General sold helmet-shaped magnets in its stores throughout Appalachia for coal supporters to put on their car or fridge to increase visibility.
The chain also extended its generosity during the Little General Golf Outing, in addition to the 32nd Annual Bridge Day and Inaugural Bob Huggins Fish Fry. Remember The Miners also partnered with Little General and local musical talent to create the Awareness Concert Series, which was held at Little Generals throughout West Virginia.
"Little General is honored to be a partner to Remember The Miners in 2012. We believe strongly in what they are doing and Little General is proud to serve coal communities in West Virginia," said Darby, who is also chairman of the Remember The Miners advisory board. "There isn't any question with partnerships like the West Virginia Coal Foundation, Little General, Coach Huggins and others that Remember The Miners is on the move. The Little General family stands with our coal mining families always."
Remember The Miners raises awareness through publicity campaigns using social media, events, grassroots mobilization and its flagship scholarship, the Scholars Program. In 2011, Remember The Miners donated $25,000 in scholarships to miners, dependents of miners and students pursuing higher education in the mining industry.
"Little General demonstrates once again that they are committed to coal mining families living and working in the communities in which they serve. In 2012, we will continue to work with Little General to bring awareness to the hard work and commitment of the American coal miner. I'm so grateful and appreciative to our friend Greg Darby and the wonderful people of Little General. I'm proud to know them and work with them," said Parsons.
Beckley-based Little General Stores Inc., owned by Darby as well as Cory Beasley, operates 85 convenience stores and 15 freestanding restaurants. The company is a franchisee for 28 Subways, 15 Godfather's Pizzas, 11 Sam's Hot Dog Stands, seven Burger Kings, six Arbys, four Taco Bells, three Krispy Krunchy Chicken Stands, two Steak Escapes and the 79er Restaurant.
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