October 9, 2015
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Oct. 9, 2015
For more information,
Contact: Natalie Bailey
Moxley Carmichael
(865) 544-0088
Anne LeZotte
Pilot Flying J
(865) 474-3028
In just three days, “Pilot Celebrity Pumpers” raised a record-breaking $90,400 for the United Way of Greater Knoxville, which surpassed the previous record by $1,000. The record was $89,400 set in 2014. Over two decades, the special event has raised more than $1.1 million dollars for the United Way. Pilot Celebrity Pumpers continues to be the charity’s single-largest special event fundraiser, helping United Way assist those most in need in our community.
Pilot Celebrity Pumper and University of Tennessee Athletics Director Dave Hart, left, enjoys a visit with Jim Haslam, Pilot founder and chairman of the board, during the 2015 Pilot Celebrity Pumpers.
On Monday through Wednesday, Oct. 5-7, local celebrities, including elected officials, media personalities and University of Tennessee sport figures, pumped gas and greeted customers to raise funds for the United Way of Greater Knoxville’s 2015 campaign. During the three-day event, Pilot donated five cents of every gallon of gas and 10 cents of every dollar spent in-store to United Way.
“We are so grateful to our community for its support of Pilot and the United Way of Greater Knoxville,” said Pilot Founder and Chairman of the Board Jim Haslam. “By breaking records year after year, that shows how committed our community is to helping the United Way. We also applaud the celebrity pumpers who volunteered time out of their busy schedules to support this worthy cause.”
Celebrity pumpers distributed coupons for a free beverage during the event. Additionally, one lucky customer from each Pilot location won a $100 Pilot gas card.
Knox County Mayor Tim Burchett was among the celebrity pumpers, along with a host of Knoxville City Council and Knox County Commission members and media personalities. Well-known sports figures Michael Annett, NASCAR driver for Pilot racing; Dave Hart, University of Tennessee athletics director, and Dean Lockwood, Lady Vols assistant basketball coach, also participated.
“Pilot Celebrity Pumpers has become a signature event for United Way,” United Way CEO Ben Landers said. “It’s a team effort and my thanks goes to the whole team: to Pilot for sponsoring this event, to the many celebrity pumpers that gave of their valuable time and to all the Pilot customers who participated.”
Headquartered in Knoxville, Tenn., Pilot operates 40 convenience stores in Tennessee.
