Parker's Partners With Memorial Health Foundation to Help Families in Need Across Georgia

Online, January 18, 2012 (Newswire.com) - SAVANNAH, Ga. - The Parker Companies, a nationally-recognized leader in exclusive fuel and retail services across southeast Georgia and South Carolina, has officially partnered with Memorial Health Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Memorial University Medical Center in Savannah, to help individuals and families across Georgia in need of medical treatment.

"Having the region's sole children's hospital and only trauma center means that many families must travel quite a distance to get treatment or visit their loved ones," said Phoenicia Miracle, vice president of the Memorial Health Foundation. "Parker's offered to join with the Foundation and give back 10 percent of every dollar we spend so that we, in turn, can help even more families."

Each year, Memorial Health Foundation purchases hundreds of gas cards to serve as a resource for needy patients and their families. Cards are managed and distributed by case workers. In 2011, the Foundation purchased $27,000 in gas cards from Parker's. The Parker Companies recently presented the Foundation with a check for $2,700, making a 10 percent charitable donation that the company will continue in 2012.

"We want to do our part to support families in need of the high-quality medical treatment the health care professionals at Memorial provide all year-round," said Greg Parker, president and CEO of The Parker Companies. "We're committed to making health care accessible and want to ensure that distance isn't a barrier to medical treatment."

Gas cards are provided through Memorial Health Foundation's patient assistance funds, which are managed by case workers. Many patients and their families make long trips to Memorial University Medical Center from across the state for medical procedures ranging from pediatric chemotherapy to cardiac surgery.

"We had no way to maximize our spending on gas until Parker's stepped up to do this," said Miracle. "Parker's is the only area company to give back in this unique way.

The annual donation from Parker's benefits The Stephen D. Hollenberg Memorial Fund for families with cancer, The Ida & David Gold Patient Assistance Fund for families with any illness, Kid's Miracle Designs for children with cancer treated in Memorial's pediatric outpatient center and The Jack Kolbush Memorial Fund for children who are hospitalized due to cancer.

The Memorial Health Foundation is a non-profit organization authorized to receive gifts for Memorial University Medical Center and its affiliates. The Foundation's mission is to help ensure that Memorial has the resources necessary to provide world-class healthcare programs for the community. To achieve its mission, the Foundation works to build relationships with business and individuals throughout the region.

Find Parker's online:
http://www.pumppalclub.com
https://www.facebook.com/ParkerSav

Parker's operates 26 clean and well-lit convenience stores located in six counties throughout southeast Georgia and South Carolina selling Parker's proprietary brand gasoline. Its mission is to be recognized throughout the region as the preeminent convenience store operation.