Delivering for a Cause — Propane Companies Raise Funds To Support Breast Cancer Awareness, Research, and Treatment Year-Round

(October 2018) — If you’re trying to draw attention, driving a big bright pink truck down the road is a good way to do it. Today, many propane marketers across the nation are operating pink delivery trucks to draw attention to, and raise funds for, a variety of organizations devoted to breast cancer awareness, research, and treatment. With October being Breast Cancer Awareness Month, eight propane marketers shared with BPN stories about their pink trucks and how they contribute to the cause.

RYMES PROPANE & OIL
When your company has a pink truck raising money for breast cancer awareness, it won’t stay parked in one place for long, says Jim Rymes Jr., partner and fleet manager, Rymes Propane & Oil (Concord, N.H.). He has found the trucks are popular with drivers and in demand for local events.

Rymes came up with the idea of themed trucks raising funds for charities in 2006. He requested a pink bobtail from truck supplier Bulk Tank & Truck Service (BT&T) and then displayed it at the 2006 Southeastern Convention & International Exposition in Atlanta. The idea was quickly picked up by several other propane marketers and industry suppliers (BPN, May 2006, September 2006, March 2007, and December 2007).

Rymes Propane & Oil is currently running four pink trucks — two propane trucks and two oil trucks. For every gallon delivered by these trucks, it donates one cent to the Concord Hospital Breast Care Center.

“Our recommendation is to go with a local organization so that you know how and where the money is being spent,” Rymes says.

In addition to being used for deliveries, the company’s pink trucks are often requested to be displayed at events.

“Once you have one of these pink trucks, you’ll be busy taking it to events, but it’s worth it,” Rymes says. “The trucks never sit. We have a list of drivers who want to drive them, because the trucks get such a great response in the community.” — Steve Relyea

In May 2013, we joined forces with Susan G. Komen in the fight to end breast cancer. For every gallon of fuel delivered by our pink trucks, we donate a portion of the proceeds to Komen Michigan to help empower people, ensure quality care for all, and energize science to find the cure for breast cancer.

In 2016, we helped Komen Michigan launch “Fueling the Cures.” Through this multi-phased corporate and nonprofit partnership, we work with Komen Michigan to educate and provide breast cancer screening opportunities for Michigan’s rural communities. This program aims to increase screening compliance and reduce late-stage diagnosis rates.

When not delivering propane, you can find our pink trucks at hundreds of events throughout Michigan including parades, fairs, and festivals. — Natalya Zaytseva, Crystal Flash (Grand Rapids, Mich.)

Our truck is not the average…we went about it slightly differently. After our truck was already painted pink, we made a decision not to donate to any of the national causes, because we felt like the money could be better spent with a local charity. We found one, but, unfortunately, they turned down our donation! Their reasoning was that they couldn’t ideologically accept payments from a fossil fuel company. We were pretty disappointed, but the good news is that this propelled us to find a charity who was happy to take our donation, and they are an incredible organization.

The group we donate to is called T-Burg Takes on Pediatric Cancer (T-Burg is the nickname for our village), though that’s a misnomer because they help patients all across central New York.

Once a year, T-Burg Takes on Pediatric Cancer hosts a gala event with a silent and a live auction, and they give us a moment to present our check. We donate one cent per gallon to the cause.

Our driver, Ernie, uses the truck daily, and brings it to every parade, fair, and festival we can find in the area. It is a big hit, and customers love it. Ernie wasn’t so sure about driving a pink truck, but now that he has been driving it for a few years, he can’t imagine giving “Pinky” up. We even bought him a pink hard hat, but it keeps finding its way back into my office. I guess that’s a little too much for him! — Bill Overbaugh, Ehrhart Energy (Trumansburg, N.Y.)

Greenwell’s Propane first painted a bobtail pink for breast cancer awareness in 2010. The idea was presented to us at an NPGA Benchmarking meeting. It made a lot of sense for our family-owned business as our mother had been a breast cancer survivor. The public response to our pink truck was so positive, we added a second pink truck in 2015. We donate one penny per gallon of propane delivered by the pink trucks to the Susan G. Komen foundation.

The pink trucks have gotten a lot of attention over the years from visibility making propane deliveries and at the annual Relay for Life. We also advertise with them in our mailings, our company newsletter, and at our company Customer Appreciation Day. To extend the Pink theme, office staff wear pink shirts each Tuesday of the summer for Ten Buck Tuesdays — a grill tank promotion. — Jennifer Baxter, Greenwell’s Propane (Taylorsville, Ky.)

We have been delivering propane from our pink truck for more than 10 years now. It has been a rewarding experience for all at Koppy’s Propane. Breast cancer had impacted numerous people within our company and the truck holds very special meaning to not only our employees, but also our customers.

We have partnered with the PA Breast Cancer Coalition for the entire tenure of our pink truck. We have donated one cent per gallon delivered to this outstanding organization and we have specifically earmarked our annual donations toward research projects aimed at finding a cure for breast cancer. — Kara K. Tucker, Koppy’s Propane (Williamstown, Pa.)

Proulx Oil & Propane is proud to partner with the American Cancer Society (ACS) Making Strides Against Breast Cancer with our Pink Truck Campaign.

When customers receive a propane delivery from the pink truck, Proulx donates a portion of each sale to ACS. “We associate our pink truck with strength and support for people who have been affected by breast cancer,” says Jim Proulx, Proulx Oil & Propane’s president and CEO. “This cause is one that’s very important to us, and we know that on the road to recovery, you can never have too many people in your corner.”

Proulx’s Pink Truck leads the parade of walkers each October at the Exeter and Dover, N.H. Making Strides Against Breast Cancer fundraising walks.

The Pink Truck also participates in the annual Richie McFarland Children’s Center Touch a Truck fundraiser. This event allows children of all ages to explore the inner workings of a big truck and sit in the driver’s seat.

The Pink Truck has not only raised awareness for a very important cause but has been well received by both customers and non-customers. Proulx’s Pink Truck driver has mentioned on numerous occasions how many beeps and thumbs-up he gets every day when on the road delivering. — Maribeth Girard, Proulx Oil & Propane (Newmarket, N.H.)

We received our first pink truck in May 2008, and currently have three “Revere Pink” M2 Freightliners active in our fleet. We will be decommissioning our very first pink bobtail soon; it will be replaced with a brand-new pink Freightliner later this fall. The pink trucks are operated throughout our service area of eastern and central Virginia, and are used to bring about awareness to the early detection and treatment of breast cancer.

Revere Gas partners with three free health clinics in our community: the Gloucester Mathews Care Clinic, the Northern Neck- Middlesex Free Health Clinic, and the Ledwith-Lewis Free Clinic in Tappahannock. A portion of the revenue generated by each pink truck is donated to the health clinics. We are proud to partner with our health clinics to help them provide services that assist those in need in our local communities. In addition to our annual donations to the clinics, our pink bobtails have appeared in many local parades, cancer awareness events, and sponsorships over the last 10 years. — Jennifer S. White, Revere Gas (Hartfield, Va.)

In April 2008, Tri Gas & Oil launched a major regional fundraising initiative to help end breast cancer with its Driven to Find a Cure campaign. With every gallon of propane fuel delivered from our “Pink Lady,” Tri Gas & Oil makes a donation to the local affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure. Since the beginning of the campaign, Tri Gas & Oil has donated more than $80,000 to Susan G. Komen for the Cure. We are proud of our employees who have embraced this effort and contributed their time and enthusiasm in the fight against breast cancer. Thanks to our generous customers who have aided this effort as well.

Our customers love the Pink Lady and all that it stands for. She has made appearances at local charity events that raise funds for the fight against breast cancer. — Susan Martin, Tri Gas & Oil (Federalsburg, Md.)

Contact BPN if your company delivers propane from a pink propane delivery truck in support of breast cancer. BPN will feature pink bobtails throughout October, breast cancer awareness month.