CVHN, the first winner of a year's supply of gasoline, provides free health and dental care to uninsured and underinsured children across northwestern Florida. The entry submitted by CVHN received the [image-nocss] most points, beating out four other finalists, to help them continue their work of spreading hope and health care to school-aged children across Florida's Walton and Okaloosa counties.
"We are always watching our budget, so having a year's supply of free fuel will let us spend that money in other ways and continue our work in the community," said Jane Bahr, a founding board member of CVHN. "Not only will our prize from CITGO enable our program to reach a wider audience across Florida's panhandle, but the exposure generated by our involvement in Fueling Good has helped raise our profile across the country. We hope that through this contest, we can make more people aware of the needs of uninsured and underinsured children."
In addition to the grand prize winner, this month's runners up each received a $50 CITGO gift card.
These local heroes are helping their community through a variety of efforts, including: Food Drive for Kids organized by Lisa Muran of Crystal Beach, Fla., collects food for a local facility that houses families with children fighting cancer. Spread the Dough of Stratham, N.H., collects bread and distributes it to local homeless shelters. Amanda Lianne Maness of Bear Creek, N.C., lost sight in one eye after a car accident in late 2008 and now coordinates programs for children who are visually impaired. Home Runs for Hope, a program created by 11-year old Zachary Stokes, encourages friends, family, and others in the community to donate money for every home run hit by the University of South Carolina Gamecocks. All money raised goes to the Palmetto Health Children's Hospital in Columbia, S.C., where Zachary receives vital health care. "It's great to recognize and give back to a local charity that does so much for people across Northwest Florida," said Jim Burns, vice president with Tom Thumb Food Stores. "By helping to tell the CVHN story I hope that other people will be inspired to give back to their own communities. Tom Thumb Food Stores do a lot through our locally owned CITGO operations to support people in need, such as our annual American Cancer Society Golf Tournament, Relay for Life, Children in Crisis and the Emerald Coast Children's Advocacy Center, and we're glad to have local partners helping to improve the lives of people in Santa Rosa Beach."
For complete Fueling Good rules and to submit a story for a chance to win gas for a year, visit www.FuelingGood.com. Each month, from July through November, five finalists will be selected from the entries for a monthly online vote, which will help decide the winner of gift cards worth a year's supply of fuel from CITGO. Be sure to return to the site regularly for information on finalists and a chance to vote on the top participants.
Separately, One Stop Convenience Stores, Bell, W.Va., in conjunction with the West Virginia Oil Marketers & Grocers Association (OMEGA), will donate one penny for every gallon of gasoline pumped each Tuesday in August at its retail locations throughout the state to the Make-A-Wish Foundation of West Virginia, reported The Charleston Gazette.
OMEGA has partnered with both the southern and northern chapters of the Make-A-Wish Foundation to raise funds that will be used to grant children's wishes.
Wish stars are being sold for $1 at nearly 1,000 OMEGA-member convenience stores and grocery stores across the state during the month of August. The association also will hold a golf tournament in September to raise additional funds.
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