Parker’s Makes $18,000 Fueling the Community Donation to Support Bulloch County Schools’ Teachers and Students
Parker’s – a nationally acclaimed convenience store company and food service leader that’s currently featured on the Inc. 5000 list of the fastest-growing private companies in America – recently donated $18,000 to Bulloch County Schools as part of the company’s Fueling the Community program. Bulloch County Schools’ Superintendent of Schools Charles G. Wilson, Statesboro High School Principal Keith Wright and Statesboro High School students accepted the unrestricted donation on behalf of area teachers and students at a check presentation at Statesboro High School in Statesboro, Ga. on May 16.
The Fueling the Community program at Parker’s is a longstanding charitable initiative that donates a portion of every gallon of gas sold on the first Wednesday of each month to area schools in coastal Georgia and South Carolina. Parker’s is donating approximately $275,000 to public and private schools in Georgia and South Carolina this spring and has given more than $1.8 million to area schools since the inception of the Fueling the Community program in 2011.
“At Parker’s, we understand that our customers are also our neighbors,” said Olivia Parker, Community Outreach Manager for Parker’s. “We know that education helps lower poverty rates, reduce crime and create more opportunities. This donation is an investment in Bulloch County and in the students who will serve as the future leaders of tomorrow.”
In addition to the Fueling the Community program, Parker’s demonstrates its deep engagement through the Parker’s Community Fund, which is dedicated to supporting charitable initiatives throughout the company’s corporate footprint in coastal Georgia and South Carolina. Since its creation in January 2021, the Parker’s Community Fund has partnered with Union Mission to build the Parker’s House, which, upon completion, will serve as Savannah and coastal Georgia’s only facility solely dedicated to providing emergency housing and comprehensive services for unaccompanied women experiencing homelessness. Parker’s has also made landmark gifts to name the Parker College of Business at Georgia Southern University and the Parker’s Emergency and Trauma Center at Memorial Hospital in Savannah, Ga.
Parker’s stands apart as one of America’s most respected convenience store brands and is known for having the cleanest stores in the industry. Headquartered in Savannah, Ga., the company has enjoyed steady 20 to 24 percent annual growth every year for the past 23 years and offers an acclaimed Parker’s Rewards program, which saves customers time and money at the pump as well as in the store.
In 2020, Parker’s was named the Convenience Store Chain of the Year by Convenience Store Decisions, which is the industry’s highest honor. The company has been honored by Food and Wine as one of America’s Best Convenience Stores and by Convenience Store News as the Convenience Foodservice Leader of the Year.
Since its founding in 1976, Parker’s has grown to become an award-winning company that was recently voted one of America’s top 10 gas station brands by USA TODAY readers. The Parker’s Rewards loyalty program, which includes more than 300,000 members, has saved customers more than $15 million to date. Parker’s employs more than 1,200 individuals throughout South Carolina and Georgia and completes more than 125,000 transactions daily.
Parker’s Community Outreach Manager Olivia Parker, center, recently presented a $18,000 Fueling the Community donation to Bulloch County Schools. Bulloch County Schools’ Superintendent of Schools Charles G. Wilson (back row, second from left), Statesboro High School Principal Keith Wright (back row, second from right) and Statesboro High School students accepted the donation on behalf of area teachers and students on May 16. Two Statesboro High School alumni and Parker’s employees, including Parker’s Regional Manager Rashad Keel (far left) and President of Parker’s Support Division and CFO Brian Prevatt (far right) also were in attendance.
ABOUT PARKER’S:
Honored as the 2020 Convenience Store Decisions Chain of the Year, Parker’s is strategically redefining the nation’s convenience store industry, offering customers high-quality products, freshly prepared food and superior customer service at retail stores throughout southeast Georgia and South Carolina. Headquartered in Savannah, Ga., Parker’s has a commitment to exceeding customer expectations and has repeatedly been recognized as one of the nation’s leading convenience store and foodservice companies. Parker’s Kitchen, the popular food-centric brand under the Parker’s umbrella, serves world-famous hand-breaded Southern Fried Chicken Tenders as well as made-from-scratch mac ‘n’ cheese, a breakfast bar and daily specials. The company’s popular Parker’s Rewards loyalty program, which includes more than 300,000 members, has saved Parker’s customers more than $15 million to date. Learn more: www.parkerskitchen.com.
RECENT AWARDS AND ACCOLADES:
● Inc. 5000 List – Fastest Growing Companies in America – Inc. Magazine
● Hall of Fame Inductee – Convenience Store News
● Best Gas Station Brand Top 10 – USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards
● Convenience Store Chain of the Year – Convenience Store Decisions
● Tripadvisor Travelers’ Choice Award
● Legacy Leader – Georgia Trend
● America’s Best Convenience Stores – Food and Wine
● Southeast Retailer of the Year – The Shelby Report
● Convenience Foodservice Leader of the Year – Convenience Store News
● Top 10 U.S. Gas Station Brands – Gas Buddy
● 50 Most Influential People in Convenience Store History – Convenience Store News
● Best Convenience Store – Savannah Morning News Readers’ Choice Awards
● Best Convenience Store – Savannah Magazine Best of Savannah Awards
● Best Convenience Market/Gas Station – Connect Savannah Best of Savannah Awards
● Best Convenience Store – Statesboro Herald “Best in the ‘Boro” Awards
● Best Convenience Store – Bryan County Now “Best of Bryan” Awards
● Regional Economic Impact Award – Greater Bluffton Chamber of Commerce
● Best Convenience Store – Island Packet
● Most Fab Convenience Store – Effingham Herald
● Most Fabulous Gas Station – Effingham Living
● Wayne County’s Favorite Convenience Store – Jesup Press-Sentinel
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The Future of Travel in Georgia: Policies for a Better Tomorrow
As Georgia and our local destinations emerge from the pandemic and welcome back visitors, it’s time to turn the page and look ahead—to imagine a future for Georgia’s travel industry that is bold and imaginative, competitive and helps small businesses thrive.
This National Travel and Tourism Week (May 1-7), the Georgia Association of Convention & Visitors Bureaus (GACVB) and our industry partners recognize the Future of Travel and the critical role our industry will play in rebuilding our local economy, fostering sustainability, ushering in new innovations and reconnecting Americans to each other and the world.
It is also an opportunity to remind lawmakers of the incredible value travel holds for America’s future growth and success as we move beyond the pandemic.
Travel is such an important part of who we are as a community. Before the pandemic, Georgia’s travel and tourism industry had a $69.0 Billion total economic impact supporting 484,000 jobs.* Nationally, travel generated $2.6 trillion in economic output, supported 17 million American jobs and delivered a $51 billion trade surplus to the U.S. in 2019—proof that travel will have an outsized role to play in Georgia and America’s economic recovery.
This vital revenue source was severely diminished amid the pandemic. To help return our industry to sustained growth, it is crucial that lawmakers prioritize policies to facilitate a more prosperous future for the millions of workers whose livelihoods depend on this industry.
The future of travel is sustainable
Georgia attracts 152.2 million* many of whom visit natural and historic sites. Protecting these treasures locally—and restoring other sites such as national parks, national forests, beaches and natural attractions—ensures they can be enjoyed for generations to come. Travel and sustainability can complement one another. With the right tools in place, travelers can see and experience our country—and protect it.
The future of travel is innovative
Infrastructure investments in roads, airports, transit and passenger rail are key to making it easier to access destinations and attractions. New transportation technologies like high-speed rail, autonomous vehicles, electric vehicles and other innovative technologies can improve travel
times and attract more visitors to Georgia destinations.
The future of travel is seamless
While we’ve all grown accustomed to the ease of virtual meetings, travel and in-person meetings and events should be just as simple. Biometrics, improved baggage checks and ticketing services and other technological advancements make the travel process more secure and efficient. As American workers look to hit the road again, lawmakers should continue to champion these innovations as integral to restarting business travel.
The future of travel is globally competitive
Promoting America as a premier destination for global travelers is more important than ever as we recover from steep losses. Lawmakers should continue to advocate for funding for destination marketing organizations like our state tourism office, Explore Georgia, the tourism division of the Georgia Department of Economic Development as well as Georgia’s local convention and visitors bureaus so we can welcome back visitors from near and far.
The pandemic was a setback, but it’s also an opportunity to reimagine the travel industry. If lawmakers plan for the future by prioritizing these policies today, businesses in Georgia can recover more quickly and rebuild the travel industry to be more dynamic, innovative, sustainable
and competitive than ever before.
* Explore Georgia, the state tourism office within the Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD).
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Free Comic Book Day at Galactic Comics & Games Featuring Author Ron Baxley Jr.
YBR Publishing fantasy and “Oz universe” author Ron Baxley, Jr. was recently named one of five finalists in the Best Novel/Novella Category for the 2022 Palmetto Scribe Awards at Atomacon and will be attending Free Comic Book Day at Galactic Comics and Games in Statesboro as a guest author on Saturday, May 7 to sign and sell books, including his finalist title, and original graphic novel art from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.
He will be attending with Ziggy Elf Corgi, his nine-year-old shelter-adopted Pembroke Welsh Corgi that Ron’s graphic novel series is based upon.
Baxley, Jr has had signings at the comic book store in “The Boro” for a number of years with titles inspired by or partially inspired by his Corgi. But he very recently received the finalist recognition, on top of other past awards, for a young adult and adult fantasy book which has a magic staff with the attributes of a Corgi. The book is the second in the O.Z. Diggs VII series and is entitled, “O.Z. Doesn’t Diggs G.C.C. at Emerald City”.
On early Saturday, April 23, Baxley, Jr. promoted Free Comic Book Day for Galactic Comics and Games at the Statesboro Main Street Farmers Market in their relatively new covered facility behind Visit Statesboro! He said he looks forward to seeing new and old faces at Galactic Comics for Free Comic Book Day on May 7. Free specially marked comics from publishers are passed out at comic book shops on this designated day every year. For more information, contact [email protected] or [email protected] .
Shown is Ron’s table at the recent Main Street Farmers Market in Statesboro. Also shown is Ron with Ziggy at his author table at his latest book signing at The Beaufort Bookstore in Beaufort, S.C.
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It’s a Fiesta
The Downtown Statesboro Development Authority will host Fiesta de Mayo, First Friday on May 6 from 5:30p.m. to 8:00p.m. on the Courthouse lawn.
Downtown First Friday provides a space and place for the community to gather and celebrate history, art and entertainment in a diverse environment. Fiesta de Mayo is a celebration of Latin culture in the heart of downtown Statesboro.
DJ Randy will have a playlist so you can dance the night away to salsa, merengue and a variety of Spanish tunes. There will be food trucks, chips and salsa, Coca-Cola products. Downtown businesses and vendors will be present so you can shop local for your perfect Mother’s Day gift.
Core Credit Union, our First Friday sponsor, will have a photo booth for everyone to get their pictures taken to remember the night for years to come. Party Harbor will provide a bouncy house so children can jump and play with parental supervision.
“One of the evening’s favorite booths is the Tormenta FC tent. People can kick a soccer ball, meet the players and Bolt the Ibis Mascot.” said Allen Muldrew, Executive Director for the Downtown Statesboro Development Authority.
F1RST Fridays are possible by the support of the following sponsors: Tormenta FC, Morris Bank, McKeithen’s True Value, CORE Credit Union, Statesboro Properties, Georgia Power, McLendon Enterprises, East Georgia Center for Oral and Facial Surgery, Coca Cola, Statesboro Oral Surgery, Colony Bank, Party Harbor, Via Media and Southern Chiropractic & Wellness Center. For more information, please contact the Downtown Statesboro Development Authority by calling (912)764-7227 or emailing [email protected].
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Celebrating Cinco de Mayo with Ballet Folklórico de Los Ángeles at the GSUPAC
Ballet Folklórico de Los Ángeles, accompanied by the Grammy-winning Mariachi Garibaldi, brings the spirit of Cinco de Mayo to the Performing Arts Center at Georgia Southern. Come out for this exhilarating performance, April 30, 2022, at 7:30 pm. Tickets are on sale now!
¡Viva Mexico! ¡Viva America! Founded in 2011, Ballet Folklórico de Los Ángeles (BFLA) catapulted to international fame when they danced at the 90th Annual Academy Awards in celebration of the Pixar movie, “Coco,” and through their special appearance on “Dancing with the Stars.” Most recently, they are excited to be a part of the new Disney live production of “Coco” which is set for streaming on Disney+. Though young, BFLA has already distinguished itself as the nation’s premier Mexican folk dance company. This versatile group performs both traditional and modern regional dances in world-class venues across the globe. Accompanied onstage by the live musicians of Mariachi Garibaldi, led by three-time Grammy winner Jimmy K.Cuéllar, BFLA will leave you spellbound with precise, elegant movement and dazzling costumes. Celebrate Cinco de Mayo a few days early with this colorful and sparkling evening of music and dance!
Tickets are $25 for adults and $12 for youth 17 and under and are on sale now at the GSUPAC Box Office. Discounts are available for Georgia Southern students and faculty/staff. Group rates for groups of 10 or more are also available. Visit the Box Office in person Monday-Friday, 10:00 am to 4:00 pm, or purchase tickets over the phone at 912-478-7999 or online at www.georgiasouthern.edu/pac.
For those interested in learning more about the tradition of the Ballet Folklórico, the PAC will be hosting a free virtual lecture on Thursday, April 28 at 6 pm. Join Dr. Angélica Castillo Reyna (PhD History, UNC Chapel Hill) for a virtual lecture discussing the origins of Ballet Folklórico in Mexico and the U.S. southwest. The lecture will explore the emergence of Ballet Folklórico during an era of post-revolutionary cultural and nationalistic revitalization in mid-20th century Mexico and will trace the emergence and significance of Ballet Folklórico within Mexican-American communities starting in the late 1960s. Questions and comments are welcome during the presentation. Follow the PAC on social media or visit our website for more information on this event.
Before the show starts on Saturday, visit a pop-up exhibition in the PAC lobby, “Tracing Mexico’s Shifting Cultural Identity Through Print Media,” curated by Georgia Southern History students to learn more about Mexico’s rich cultural traditions and politics through examples of rare print media produced in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries now housed in the Zach S. Henderson Library’s Special Collections.
For more information, including cast and crew interview inquiries, please contact:
Stacie McDaniel
(912) 478-0830
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F1rst Friday Downtown Arts
The Downtown Statesboro Development Authority will be hosting its first annual Downtown Arts on April 1,2022 from 5:30-8:00 p.m.
This year the Downtown Statesboro Development Authority (DSDA) has collaborated with the Averitt Center for the Arts, Georgia Southern Arts Department and downtown businesses to have art exhibits within walking distance of the Courthouse square.
“It’s like Taste of Downtown but with art exhibits. We will have a free guide available that will help people find the art stops inside shops and restaurants. Come and appreciate all of the creative artists that we have in our community” said Allen Muldrew, Executive Director of the DSDA.
This F1RST Friday event will begin on the Courthouse lawn where there will be music, vendors and food trucks. Stop by the Coke table to get information of where the art exhibits will be on display. Local artists and Georgia Southern Betty Foy Sanders Department of Arts students will have art available for purchase. There will be various mediums of art including paint, sculpture, ceramics and jewelry.
Participating downtown businesses include: 67 Styles, Downtown Nutrition, MC Boutiques, Miracles Children’s Boutique, Charlie’s Funky Junk, Lucy’s on Main (Material Girl), Vino 1910, Hairstudio 101, Cool Beanz Espresso Bar, Posh Boutique, Galactic Comics & Games, Averitt Center for the Arts, Southern Pottery & Arts Studio, Tandoor & Tap, Lori Grice Photography, Garage Fit , Georgia Southern BIG alley and Jaxe & Grace Boutique.
F1RST Fridays are possible by the support of the following sponsors: Tormenta FC, Morris Bank McKeithen’s True Value, CORE Credit Union, Statesboro Properties, Zaxby’s, Georgia Power, McLendon Enterprises, East Georgia Center for Oral and Facial Surgery, Coca Cola, Statesboro Oral Surgery, Colony Bank, Party Harbor, Via Media and Southern Chiropractic & Wellness Center.
For more information, please contact the Downtown Statesboro Development Authority by calling (912)764-7227 or emailing [email protected].
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4th Annual CASSEGA Grand Slam Hosted by Core Credit Union
Come out and golf for a great cause at the 4th Annual CASSEGA Grand Slam hosted by CORE Credit Union on March 5, 2022, at the Georgia Southern Golf Course. Golfers will tee-up for more than just a round of golf. They are playing to benefit abused and neglected children in Bulloch, Effingham, Jenkins and Screven Counties. This annual tournament benefits the Ogeechee Visitation Centers and CASA Ogeechee.
To register visit: www.casaogeechee.org/grandslam
Registration Information:
$100 per golfer (max of 4 per team)
$20 for 3 Mulligans
Please send your handicap to [email protected]
SCHEDULE:
8:30 a.m. Registration Opens
9:15 a.m. Welcome & Rules
9:30 a.m. Shotgun Start – Scramble Format
Approx. 1:00 p.m. Lunch is served
Here is a link to the Facebook Event: https://www.facebook.com/events/634922254292998
Additional Information:
Child Advocacy Services SEGA, Inc. is the sponsoring agency for CASA Ogeechee and the Ogeechee Visitation Centers. CASA Ogeechee serves Bulloch, Effingham, Jenkins, and Screven Counties. CASA speaks up for children who have been abused or neglected by empowering community volunteers who advocate for the children in the court system. When the state steps in to protect a child’s safety, a Juvenile Judge appoints a trained CASA volunteer to make independent and informed recommendations to serve the child’s best interests.
Ogeechee Visitation Centers provides a safe space for children in foster care in Southeast Georgia to have weekly court-ordered visits with their biological families. Our trained staff not only provides supervised visitation at our two locations in Statesboro and Guyton but personal one-on-one parent coaching and education. Last year CASA Ogeechee volunteers advocated for 106 children and had 19 children reach permanency through reunification with their parents and 14 children adopted into their forever home. The Ogeechee Visitation Center supervised visits for 79 children from 45 families.
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Celtic Angels Ireland Brings the Emerald Isle to GSUPAC
The Performing Arts Center at Georgia Southern is excited to welcome Celtic Angels Ireland, the next show in their 2021-2022 Main Stage Series! This performance is scheduled for Tuesday, March 1, 2022, at 7:30 pm. Tickets are on sale now!
A joyous celebration of everything Irish comes to Statesboro with this energetic and exciting performance from the young stars of Celtic Angels Ireland. Honoring their cherished heritage through traditional Irish music and dance, these entertainers enthrall from the moment the lights dim, transporting audiences across the Atlantic on the wings of music with the stirring songs of Ireland. Five beautiful women with the sweetest voices under heaven make up the Celtic Angels: Victoria Kenny, Amy Penston, Eimear Crealey, Nuirgen O’Mahoney, and Sari Greenberg, accompanied by accomplished violinist Danielle Marien Turano – Irish to the core and seasoned entertainers all, with credits such as West Side Story, Grease, and Jury’s Irish Cabaret. These remarkable vocalists are joined onstage by The Celtic Knight Dancers, featuring lead dancers from the world-renowned Riverdance, and the Trinity Band Ensemble of Dublin, who round out the show with their flawless interpretations of authentic Irish Trad instrumentals. Join us for this evening of award-winning song, dance, and music that will leave you breathless.
Says GSUPAC Director Stacie McDaniel, “I could not imagine a more beautiful celebration of Celtic and Irish culture. Come join us and be transported on a mini-vacation to the Emerald Isle!”
Tickets are $20 for adults and $10 for youth 17 and under and are on sale now at the GSUPAC Box Office. Discounts are available for Georgia Southern students and faculty/staff. Group rates for groups of 10 or more are also available. Visit the Box Office in person Monday-Friday, 10:00 am to 4:00 pm, or purchase tickets over the phone at 912-478-7999 or online at www.georgiasouthern.edu/pac.
For more information, including cast and crew interview inquiries, please contact:
Stacie McDaniel
(912) 478-0830
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2022 Farmers Market Applications and Guidelines
Applications for the 2022 season are here! If you are interested in becoming a vendor at the Statesboro Farmers Market, please download an application, or stop by the Statesboro Convention and Visitors Bureau and pick one up in person. Guidelines for the 2022 market are also available.
New member applications are accepted February 1 through November 1, and applications are reviewed monthly.
Completed applications with relevant attachments can be brought to the SCVB office located at 222 S Main St. or mailed to:
Statesboro Farmers Market
PO Box 1135
Statesboro, GA
30459
Click on the appropriate application below:
Statesboro Farmers Market Guidelines: Rules and Regulations for Vendors
Application for Farmers & Food Producers
Application for Food Purveyors (Prepared Foods)
Application for Artisans (Arts & Crafts)
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Tony-Winning “Jersey Boys” at the Performing Arts Center at Georgia Southern
Dates have been announced for the Statesboro engagement of the Tony, Grammy and Olivier Award-winning hit musical Jersey Boys, the story of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons, playing the Performing Arts Center at Georgia Southern University (GSUPAC) on Friday, January 21, 2022. Jersey Boys is part of the Main Stage series presented the GSUPAC.
Jersey Boys is the winner of the 2006 Best Musical Tony Award®, the 2006 Grammy Award® for Best Musical Show Album, the 2009 Olivier Award for Best New Musical and the 2010 Helpmann Award for Best Musical (Australia). Directed by two-time Tony® Award-winner Des McAnuff, Jersey Boys is written by Academy Award-winner Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice, with music by Bob Gaudio, lyrics by Bob Crewe and choreography by Sergio Trujillo.
Catch a sneak peek of Jersey Boys! Log on to www.JerseyBoysTour.com/watch.
Jersey Boys is the behind-the-music story of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons. They were just four guys from Jersey, until they sang their very first note. They had a sound nobody had ever heard… and the radio just couldn’t get enough of. But while their harmonies were perfect on stage, off stage it was a very different story – a story that has made them an international sensation all over again. The show features all their hits including “Sherry,” “Big Girls Don’t Cry,” “Oh What A Night,” “Walk Like A Man,” “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You” and “Working My Way Back To You.”
The Jersey Boys design and production team comprises Klara Zieglerova (Scenic Design), Jess Goldstein (Costume Design), Howell Binkley (winner of the 2006 Tony® Award for his Lighting Design of Jersey Boys), Steve Canyon Kennedy (Sound Design), Michael Clark (Projections Design), Charles LaPointe (Wig and Hair Design), Steve Orich (Orchestrations) and Ron Melrose (Music Supervision, Vocal/Dance Arrangements & Incidental Music).
Jersey Boys is produced by Dodger Theatricals, Joseph J. Grano, Tamara and Kevin Kinsella, Pelican Group, with Latitude Link, Rick Steiner, and NETworks Presentations.
Tickets for Jersey Boys are $32 for adults and $16 for youth 17 and under and are on sale now at the GSUPAC Box Office. Discounts are available for Georgia Southern students and faculty/staff. Group rates for groups of 10 or more are also available. Visit the Box Office in person Monday-Friday, 10:00 am to 4:00 pm, or purchase tickets over the phone at 912-478-7999 or online at www.georgiasouthern.edu/pac. Performance schedule, prices and cast are subject to change without notice. For more information, please visit www.JerseyBoysTour.com or
www.georgiasouthern.edu/pac.
Jersey Boys
The PAC is complying with all university guidance regarding COVID-19. At this time, visitors are strongly encouraged but not required to be vaccinated or to wear a mask or face covering inside campus facilities. However, these guidelines are subject to change based on guidance from the university administration, the University System of Georgia, and the Georgia Department of Public Health. Performance dates and titles are also subject to change. Please join our email list or follow us on social media to receive updates.
For more information please contact:
Stacie McDaniel
(912) 478-0830
[email protected]
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