Parker’s Donates $11,000 to Support Students and Teachers at Bulloch County Schools
Parker’s — a nationally acclaimed convenience store company and food service leader that was named the 2020 CStore Decisions Convenience Store Chain of the Year — recently donated $11,000 to Bulloch County Schools as part of the company’s Fueling the Community program, which donates one cent of every gallon of gas sold on the first Wednesday of each month to local schools.
The check presentation took place at the Bulloch County Schools’ Central Office at the William James Educational Complex in Statesboro, Ga. on Oct. 7. Superintendent of Schools Charles Wilson and district principals accepted the donation on behalf of Bulloch County Schools. The donation is part of nearly $150,000 the company is donating to schools in Georgia and South Carolina this fall.
“We’re honored to support Bulloch County’s teachers and students through our Fueling the Community program,” said Parker’s founder and CEO Greg Parker. “At Parker’s, we believe it’s important to invest in the communities we serve, especially during these difficult times, and there is no better way to do that than to support education right here in Bulloch County.”
Launched in 2011 with a mission to give back to every community where Parker’s does business, the Parker’s Fueling the Community charitable initiative distributes more than $200,000 annually to public and private schools throughout Georgia and South Carolina. To date, Parker’s has donated more than $1 million to area schools through the program.
Deeply engaged with the communities it serves, Parker’s endows the Parker’s Emergency and Trauma Center at Memorial Hospital in Savannah and spearheads the Keep Savannah Clean anti-litter campaign. In 2019, Parker’s also donated a record $5 million to create the Parker College of Business at Georgia Southern University.
Founded in 1976, Parker’s is one of America’s most respected convenience store brands and is known for having the cleanest stores in the industry. Parker’s serves award-winning Southern-inspired food and offers an acclaimed Parker’s Rewards program. The company gives back to every community where it does business through the Fueling the Community charitable giving program.
Parker’s has been included on the Inc. 5000 list of America’s fastest-growing companies for five years and was honored by Food and Wine as one of America’s Best Convenience Stores, by The Shelby Report as the Southeast Retailer of the Year and by Convenience Store News as the Foodservice Leader of the Year. The company employs more than 1,200 individuals throughout the region and completes more than 125,000 transactions daily.
ABOUT PARKER’S:
Honored as the 2020 CStore Decisions Convenience Store 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 food service companies. Parker’s Kitchen, the new 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 150,000 members, has saved Parker’s customers more than $15 million to date. Learn more: www.parkerskitchen.com.
RECENT AWARDS AND ACCOLADES:
● 2020 Convenience Store Chain of the Year – CStore Decisions
● 2020 Tripadvisor Travelers’ Choice Award
● Legacy Leader – Georgia Trend
● America’s Best Convenience Stores – Food and Wine
● 2019 Southeast Retailer of the Year – The Shelby Report
● 2019 Fastest Growing Companies in America – Inc. 5000
● 2018 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 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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Georgia Safety Promise Reaches More Than 1,000 Commitments
Statewide initiative for a ‘healthy Georgia’ gains momentum as participant numbers continue to grow.
As billboards and a variety of grassroots promotions continue across the state, the Georgia Safety Promise public-private partnership, in conjunction with the Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD), has announced that more than 1,000 Georgia businesses, local authorities and officials throughout the state have committed to the Georgia Safety Promise.
Governor Brian P. Kemp launched the Georgia Safety Promise last month to encourage all Georgians to do their part to keep Georgia healthy and open for business by following the latest Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) guidelines, including wearing masks, maintaining social distance, and regularly washing and sanitizing hands and surfaces.
Large and small businesses, from restaurants, hotels and salons, to manufacturers, banks and retailers, have made the Promise to do their part to stop the spread of the virus. Additionally, individual chambers of commerce, municipalities, economic development agencies and tourist destinations across the state have committed to the Promise.
Many signers include businesses with multiple locations in the state, bringing the total number of commitments well above the 1,000 mark. To view the full list of participants in the Georgia Safety Promise, click here.
“I commend our state’s business owners and leaders for heeding public health guidelines, encouraging best practices, and doing their part to keep their fellow neighbors safe as we continue to fight COVID-19,” said Governor Kemp.
The Georgia Chamber has become an official partner of the Promise, joining the Georgia Restaurant Association and other key industry organizations that have committed to the Georgia Safety Promise.
Official supporters also leading the effort include the Metro Atlanta Chamber, the Korean American Restaurant Association and The Home Depot. Small businesses such as Atlanta’s Park Tavern are featuring their commitment on the home page of their website; tourist destinations such as Albany’s Chehaw Park and Zoo, the Flint RiverQuarium, and Thronateeska Heritage Center have joined together as members of the Artesian Alliance; and the Mayor’s Youth Council in the City of Douglas, Georgia, has said, “I’m in,” for the Georgia Safety Promise with a special public service announcement.
Business and industry-leading partners recently penned an op-ed published in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Georgians and businesses: Commit to the Safety Promise, outlining the resiliency of the Georgia business community, and the measures implemented to keep the workplace safe for employees and patrons.
“This state is home to world-renowned restaurants, vibrant cities filled with history and culture, and nearly 800,000 small businesses,” wrote leaders from the Georgia Restaurant Association, Georgia Retailers Association, Georgia Association of Convention and Visitors Bureaus, Georgia Chamber of Commerce, Georgia Bankers Association, Georgia Hotel and Lodging Association, and the National Federation of Independent Business. “It is up to all of us to keep Georgia safe so it can continue to remain open for all to enjoy. Taking the Georgia Safety Promise is a simple, but critical way to do just that.”
Participants in the Georgia Safety Promise voluntarily agree to follow the latest guidelines from the Governor’s Office and the Georgia Department of Public Health. Those who join the campaign receive a full digital toolkit of resources to help publicly share their commitment, including social media posts, signage and more.
In addition to signage in participating businesses, the Georgia Safety Promise campaign is being promoted on digital billboards around the state through the Outdoor Advertising Association of Georgia. Participating businesses who agree to the Promise are also displayed on a comprehensive list of participants on the Georgia Safety Promise website.
“I appreciate our partners in both the public and private sectors for continuing to promote the Georgia Safety Promise in their local communities,” said Georgia Department of Economic Development Commissioner Pat Wilson.“From Valdosta to Blue Ridge, the Georgia Safety Promise is not only helping encourage Georgians to follow crucial public health guidelines, but also assisting in restoring consumer confidence so our local businesses can safely remain open.”
To learn more and make the Georgia Safety Promise, visit www.GeorgiaSafetyPromise.com.
About the Georgia Safety Promise
The Georgia Safety Promise campaign is led by the Office of the Governor and is supported in partnership with the Georgia Department of Economic Development, Georgia Department of Public Health, Georgia Association of Convention and Visitors Bureaus, Georgia Bankers Association, Georgia Chamber, Georgia Hotel and Lodging Association, Georgia Retailers Association, Georgia Restaurant Association, and Georgia National Federation of Independent Businesses.
About GDEcD
The Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) is the state’s sales and marketing arm, the lead agency for attracting new business investment, encouraging the expansion of existing industry and small businesses, locating new markets for Georgia products, attracting tourists to Georgia, and promoting the state as a destination for arts and location for film, music and digital entertainment projects, as well as planning and mobilizing state resources for economic development. Visit www.georgia.org for more information.
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Famed Comedy Troupe “The Second City” Brings the Laughs to GSUPAC
The Performing Arts Center at Georgia Southern is proud to present “The Second City: Improv All-Stars” as part of their 2019-2020 Main Stage Series on Thursday, January 30, 2020 at 7:30pm. The best seats are going fast for this legendary comedy troupe!
Chicago’s storied comedy theater The Second City is bringing their talent to Statesboro with “The Second City: Improv All-Stars,” an irresistible hour of improved comedy performed by the industry’s up-and-coming talent. These masters of the form will astound with their skill and wit – all without the aid of scripts or sets. Fresh, fast, and always spectacularly funny, The Second City is celebrating more than 55 years of producing cutting-edge satirical revues and has launched the careers of legends like Tina Fey, Stephen Colbert, Steve Carell, Gilda Radner, Bill Murray, and more.
The group is also planning to lead two improv masterclasses during their time on campus. Those interested in attending a workshop can keep an eye on the Performing Arts Center Facebook page for more details once dates and times of the classes are confirmed.
PAC Director Stacie McDaniel says the whole staff is excited about the show, noting “I’ve been trying to get this group to our venue for years, and we finally worked out the right date to make it happen! If you’re looking to start the new decade off with a laugh, this is absolutely the right show for you.”
Tickets are $15 for adults and $8 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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Country Superstars Lonestar to Play Georgia Southern’s Performing Arts Center
The Performing Arts Center at Georgia Southern is excited to present country music super group Lonestar for the opening performance of their 2019-2020 Main Stage Series on Friday, September 20, 2019 at 7:30 pm. Tickets are on sale now and going quickly!
Just over two decades ago, Lonestar was formed when destiny brought together four Texas musicians trying to make their way to country stardom in Nashville, TN. Now, more than 20 years after they began their journey, they have logged countless miles touring throughout the world, released multiple Platinum-selling albums, and earned ten No. 1 hit singles, including “No News,” “Come Crying to Me,” and the pop-chart crossover smash, “Amazed.”
The band’s awards include a 1999 Academy of Country Music (ACM) Single of the Year and the 2001 Country Music Association Vocal Group of the Year. Known for excellent songwriting, pure vocals, and exuberant instrumental tracks, Lonestar merges strong country roots with catchy, memorable melodies. Today, Lonestar continues to inspire rave reviews from critics and fans alike.
Says Performing Arts Center Director Stacie McDaniel, “Lonestar’s music has been the soundtrack of so many people’s lives, and I know they are going to put on a show to remember here in Statesboro. This is going to be such a special and memorable evening! I’m anticipating a sold-out show, so purchase your tickets now!”
Tickets are $28 for adults and $14 for youth 17 and under, and are on sale now at the Performing Arts Center at Georgia Southern 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, please contact:
Stacie McDaniel
(912) 478-0830
smcdaniel@georgiasouthern.edu
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Georgia Southern’s Performing Arts Center Welcomes Big Stars and Hit Shows in Their 2019-2020 Main Stage Series
The Performing Arts Center at Georgia Southern is knee-deep in tickets this week as they begin their season subscription drive for the upcoming 2019-2020 Main Stage Series. Full season packages are available for patrons who wish to come to all six shows, while a flexible package option allows patrons to purchase advanced tickets to three or more shows. All season subscribers enjoy the privilege of choosing their seats early and maintaining their seat choice throughout the season in addition to the best ticket prices.
This year’s season takes patrons on a trip across the United States, featuring big stars and hit shows from across the country. Beginning with Texas-born and Nashville-based country legends Lonestar, famous for their No. 1 crossover smash “Amazed,” we then venture further west with a glitzy Vegas-style cirque performance from Cirque Mechanics who take the glory days of the American circus to the next level. Next, Broadway comes to Statesboro with the national tour of the Tony- and Grammy-winning musical The Color Purple. Then we start 2020 off laughing with Chicago’s famed comedy troupe, The Second City, and their all-improv performance, Improv All-Stars. In February, the PAC partners with Georgia Southern’s Theatre & Performance to present another Broadway favorite, Jesus Christ Superstar, before finally ending the season strong with a nostalgic performance of beloved Motown artists – The Drifters, Platters, and Cornell Gunter’s Coasters. Visit the PAC website at www.georgiasouthern.edu/pac for detailed descriptions, dates and times.
PAC patrons have expressed their excitement about the new season. Season subscriber Joanna Schreiber says, “The PAC has put together yet another amazing season of entertainment.” Another subscriber, Christina Olson, adds, “From musical arts to theatre to comedy, there’s something for everyone!”
Previous season ticket holders can renew their subscription now through August 23 while those interested in becoming new subscribers this year can do so beginning August 26. Full season packages are $130 per seat, while flexible package prices vary depending on show choice. Tickets to individual shows will be available starting September 3. Visit the PAC Box Office in person Monday-Friday, 10:00 am to 4:00 pm, or purchase your subscription over the phone at 912-478-7999. Single tickets will be available online at www.georgiasouthern.edu/pac.
For more information, please contact:
Stacie McDaniel
(912) 478-0830
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Georgia Association of Convention & Visitors Bureaus (GACVB) Announces Partnership with Pineapple Public Relations
The Georgia Association of Convention and Visitors Bureaus (GACVB) is proud to announce a strategic partnership with long-standing tourism industry PR firm, Pineapple Public Relations. The partnership will support GACVB in creating and promoting awareness of Georgia’s destination marketing organizations (DMOs) and their contributions to the state’s economy and quality of life for both residents and visitors via industry education, professional development, and legislative awareness.
“GACVB is committed to being the voice for our destination marketing organizations and tourism industry professionals. Through this partnership, we look forward to communicating and advocating
news of our members and their contributions to Georgia’s tourism-based economic development, industry trends, and legislation that potentially affects our hospitality communities,” said Jay Markwalter, Executive Director, Georgia Association of Convention and Visitors Bureau. “Pineapple PR brings a unique understanding of Georgia’s tourism industry through their decades of work with numerous destinations across the state and beyond. Their reputation for best-in-class service and skill is something that we are excited to bring to GACVB. We welcome the Pineapple PR team as one of our newest Ally Members at the Sustaining Level partnership.”
“We are thrilled to be a part of GACVB, the exciting future of this organization and the many communities across the state. Working with DMOs and CVBs to share news and stories that further enhance economic growth dovetails with our own mission statement, and we look forward working to increase awareness and visitation to Georgia,” said Deborah Stone, President of Pineapple PR.
Pineapple Public Relations is a full-service PR agency with more than 20 years of success in serving large and small businesses in the tourism, hospitality and lifestyle industries and helping them achieve economic success. The agency provides forward-thinking, results-based strategies backed by superior service and experience, offering big agency capabilities with the responsiveness and attentiveness of an independent, hands-on firm. Founded on three principals – excellence in service, a passion for travel and a never-ending quest to successfully and creatively tell clients’ stories – Pineapple PR offers a full-suite of traditional, digital and social media services.
The Georgia Association of Convention and Visitors Bureaus is an organization comprised of 90+ diverse tourism bureaus throughout the state of Georgia and associate members who provide services and support to the CVB community. The organization provides a unified voice of Georgia’s destination marketing organizations as well as industry education and professional development opportunities to members. GACVB represents members across the state and country to keep Georgia’s tourism industry at the forefront of developments, trends, products and services that may benefit its members, partners and ultimately communities.
For More Information, Please Contact:
Jay Markwalter, Executive Director
Georgia Association of Convention & Visitors Bureaus
(706) 338-0124
Jay@gacvb.com
www.GACVB.com
Deborah M. Stone, President
Pineapple Public Relations
(404) 237-3761, ext. 1001
Dstone@Pineapple-PR.com
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Murder. Mayhem. Ten Minute Play Festival.
Theatre South invites you to an evening of murder and mayhem. Six original short plays by student playwrights. See you there…if you dare.
The Ten-Minute Play Festival is an annual program produced by Theatre South, in association with Georgia Southern Theatre. The submitted plays were sent out to a panel of respondents including alumni, theatre professionals, and faculty. The top scoring plays are presented in a staged reading in the Spring Semester.
The Theatre South student club is an open student group that accepts members from all majors. The students host guest artists and run workshops on various theatre topics from improv, to dance, to audition skills, and building a resume.
The Ten-Minute Play Festival will hold on Saturday, March 30th, 2019 at 7:30 pm at Sanford Hall, Room 1002. Admission is Free.
See you there . . . If you dare.
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The GSUPAC is Proud to Introduce Elle Woods, a Lawyer with a Heart of Gold and a Mane to Match, in Legally Blonde
The Performing Arts Center at Georgia Southern is excited to present the fabulously fun musical, Legally Blonde. The heralded national tour stops right here in Statesboro on Monday, March 4, 2019 at 7:30 pm. Tickets are on sale now! Don’t wait to secure your seat!
The international award-winning Broadway musical based on the adored movie of the same name, Legally Blonde The Musical follows the transformation of the beautiful, brilliant, and blonde Elle Woods as she tackles stereotypes, snobbery, and scandal in pursuit of her dreams – and justice of course! This action-packed musical explodes on the stage with memorable songs and dynamic dance numbers. Equal parts hilarious and heartwarming, this musical is so much fun, it should be illegal!
The sparkling new touring production features choreography by Tony-nominated Denis Jones, snazzy modern scenery, costumes, lighting, and sound, and dynamic LED video screens with new inventive designs by Daniel Brody (of Aladdin, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, and the Wizard of Oz fame). A perfect show to bring joy to audiences of all ages, Legally Blonde The Musical will win your heart and inspire you to push past the barriers that stand between you and your own dreams!
“This show is sure to please fans of the classic movie as well as those who are brand new to the story of perky and beautiful but kind Elle Woods and her ragtag group. The music is so much fun and the underlying message to believe in yourself no matter what anyone expects of you really resonates,” says GSUPAC Director Stacie McDaniel.
Tickets are $32 for adults and $16 for youth 17 and under, and are on sale now at the Performing Arts Center at Georgia Southern 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.
DISCLAIMER: This musical contains adult themes and some mild language. Viewer discretion is advised.
For more information, please contact:
Stacie McDaniel
(912) 478-0830
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Georgia Southern Theatre Presents The Spring Season Opener “Bug”
The Georgia Southern Theatre presents the first production of the Spring semester “BUG” written by Tracy Letts.
“Bug” is a dark comedy takes place in a seedy motel room outside Oklahoma City, where Agnes, a drug-addled cocktail waitress, is hiding from her ex-con ex-husband. She meets Peter, a handsome drifter with a secret past. Tracy Letts’s tale of love, paranoia, and government conspiracy is a thought-provoking psycho-thriller that mixes terror and laughter at a fever pitch.
Directed by Lisa L. Abbott, “Bug” explores the depth of human weakness and is a showcase of the madness and fear that plagues conspiracy theorists while focusing on issues of love, paranoia, drugs, conspiracy theories, psychological trauma, and Agnes’s slow descent into insanity under Peter’s influence.
The author, Tracy Letts is an American actor, playwright, and screenwriter. He is best known for his award-winning play (2007) and film (2013) titled “August: Osage County”. “Bug” was first produced in London in 1996 and was adapted for the screen by Tracy Letts in 2006. He has also featured in various plays, movies and Television shows including “Homeland” (2013), “The Big Short” (2015) and his Broadway debut in 2012 as George in “Who is Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” For which he won a Tony award in 2013.
Georgia Southern Theatre will be showing “Bug” on Wednesday, February 27 through Wednesday, March 6, 2019. No performance on Monday night, March 4th. Curtain for all evening performances is at 7:30 pm (The Sunday Matinee is on March 3rd at 2 pm). They encourage audience members to arrive at least 15 minutes early as all seats are open admission. “Bug” is intended only for mature audiences.
Ticket prices are $12 for general admission and $6 for Students, Seniors, and Members of the Military. Group rates are available. Contact the box office at 912-478-5379 to make reservations. Reservation requests can be left on the box office voicemail 24-hours a day.
The box office is located at the Center for Arts and Theatre and is open in the afternoons Monday through Friday till 5 pm for ticket purchases and reopens at 6 pm on performance days. Tickets can also be purchased through the Marketplace on the GSU website at http:/class.georgiasouthern.
For more information email them at theatre@georgiasouthern.edu
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Exciting Changes for the Farmers Market2Go
The venue. Market2Go is moving! Starting Thursday, February 14, Market2Go order pickups will be at the Statesboro Convention and Visitors Bureau at 222 South Main Street. They’re not moving far — the SCVB is on South Main Street, diagonally across from Queensborough Bank.
Hours will remain the same with order pick up between 4:30 and 6:30 p.m. every Thursday.
Sugar Magnolia Bakery has been the operations base for Market2Go since the very beginning. The owners past and present have been very generous and gracious through every kind of transition of the building. They are grateful to Steve Jones for helping them get started, Barry Turner for letting them use the building even when the business was closed, and especially to Caroline Joyner and the current management team for making room for them — and making them feel welcome — even as they worked around the market to do renovations and open their beautiful new restaurant.
At their new location at the SCVB, they will have a dedicated cooler and freezer to improve efficiency, food safety and customer service. They also expect that the generous parking area will make order pickup more convenient for the customers.
The cost structure. They are eliminating the annual membership fee and in its place — because they have to maintain support for the market — they’re instituting a surcharge of 7% on each order.
Their analysis, as well as comments from vendors and would-be customers, suggest that their annual membership fee of $25 remains a barrier to market participation for some customers, especially for customers at lower incomes. At the same time, they know they need to maintain their income to cover market expenses. They think that this new structure will allow them to do both — to bring in new customers to the market and also produce income to keep the market going.
Effective immediately, market membership fees will no longer be charged — anyone can make purchases on the market, simply by signing up. They will contact customers who have paid a membership fee recently, to offer some compensation alternatives.
Beginning March 1, your Market2Go orders will include a 7% market-support fee to maintain income for Market2Go.
For questions, please contact :
market2gostatesboro@gmail.com
Michele 912-601-9252
Relinda 912-481-2263
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