From the Pilot Flying J blog:
Pilot stores across North America employ and serve people of all backgrounds and walks of life. Coast to coast, we welcome people as they crisscross the nation, hearing and sharing stories of travels, families and experiences. The road is what connects us all – wherever we are from – and in our mission to Fuel Life’s Journeys, we set out to do much more than fuel your gas tank.
Seeing the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine and the impact of the ongoing conflict across the globe, we launched a round-up campaign to raise funds for Save the Children’s Ukraine Crisis Relief Fund. In addition to donating 100% of the funds from guests who rounded up their purchase, Pilot made a matching pledge of $100,000 towards the cause.
Save the Children is providing relief for children and families inside Ukraine as well as in neighboring countries through delivering food, water, hygiene kits, voucher assistance, and other humanitarian programs. The organization aims to reach 10 million children and their families impacted by the Ukraine crisis. Click here to learn more about the critical assistance they are providing.
A few cents can add up to make a big difference.
Together, we were able to donate a total of $1,153,000 to Save the Children’s Ukraine Crisis Relief Fund.
“Save the Children is extremely grateful for Pilot Company’s support in response to the devastating crisis in Ukraine,” said Luciana Bonifacio, Chief Development Officer, Save the Children. “The funds raised will enable us to distribute critical emergency supplies and where possible, establish safe spaces for children, ultimately helping protect impacted children and families in Ukraine and neighboring countries.”
Because of your generosity, Save the Children can help more Ukrainian families get the support they need. Donations to Save the Children help make possible their ability to provide essential assistance, such as:
- $50 can provide 10 warm, cozy blankets to children displaced from their homes
- $100 helps supply a month’s worth of nutrition food to a family in crisis
- $175 can provide five families with emergency shelter materials
Meet a few of our fleet customers who have Ukrainian origins to hear their perspectives on the importance of Pilot and the industry coming together to support Ukraine during this difficult time.
Sergii Stetsiuk, CEO of IIK Transport
Tell me about you and your family? Do you have family still in Ukraine?
I was born and raised in Ukraine and when I was 18 years old, I moved to the U.S. My parents have always lived in Ukraine, but since my dad passed away 2 years ago my mom visits us a lot here in the US.
I have a lot of family and friends in Ukraine. I usually go there twice a year as we have 2 offices there.
Sergey Bort, VP of Marketing & Strategic Business Development at GP Transco
Tell me about you and your family? Do you have family still in Ukraine?
I was actually born in Russia and lived there until I was only 6 years old. After that, my family moved to Israel for 7 years, and then moved to the U.S. in 2003. My father was born in Mariupol (the city in Ukraine that perhaps got bombed worse than any other), though he lives in the United States now.
My wife’s family is another story; her mother is in hiding in an underground-type shelter in her home outside of Kyiv, and her partner is out fighting for his country.