Town Pump raised $1.75 million
Town Pump Corp. is known as a business leader when it comes to taverns and gaming as well as car washes, hotels, fuel and groceries. And over the years the Butte-based company is also earning a reputation as a Montana leader in philanthropy.
Started in 1953 by Tom Kenneally, Sr., the family-owned company has set up several charitable foundations and programs to funnel money to education, Special Olympics and other worthy causes for the needy, most notably a campaign to raise money for the state's food banks.
In a recent six-page newspaper flyer widely distributed in Montana, the company notes its 2009 "Be a Friend In Deed, Helping Those in Need" raised $1.75 million in cash for Montana food banks. The campaign, begun in 2002, uses a Town Pump matching grant to spur donations.
This year Town Pump put up $300,000 from its charitable foundation, then raised an additional $1.45 million in small donations from patrons. Contributions in 2009 were the most ever collected and exceed 2008 by $270,000. The flyer noted the money went to 52 food banks from Troy to Sidney.
In eight years the food bank fundraiser has provided $6.5 million, including $1.45 million of matching funds from the foundation. Altogether, the company has made over $6 million in contributions to hundreds of causes since 2000.
Company spokesperson Maureen Kenneally said in a news release, "We are so thankful for all those who contributed to Montana food banks through the foundation's campaign. Never has the need been greater and never has the support been stronger."
Other beneficiaries of Town Pump charitable giving are the Special Olympics – $100,000 in 2009; Montana Schools, $500,000 since 2000 and the Adopt A Family Christmas gift program – $50,000 in 2009.
The recent newspaper flyer listed close to 900 individual groups that have benefited from the Town Pump charitable giving programs.
Bob Anderson, executive Director of the Montana Tavern Association, of which Town Pump is a member, said the company's charity initiatives reflect well on its ownership and management, but further reflects well on an entire industry that is noted for its support of people who are in need and other worthy community programs, especially those that benefit youth.
"I certainly commend the Kenneally family for this concerted effort to help the less fortunate in our communities," Anderson said. "If we could ever somehow quantify the total giving of the entire hospitality industry, it would be an absolutely astounding number."
According to its web site, Town Pump operates over 200 individual business units, often combining several of them in one location, in 52 towns across the state. The familiar brands are Town Pump Car Wash, TownHouse Inns of Montana, Propane Services Inc., Town Pump Convenience stores, and Lucky Lil's, Montana Lil's and Magic Diamond casinos.