St. Charles drivers can support high school athletics by filling up at The Pride stations

Through July, two St. Charles gas stations will make a donation to the St. Charles Athletic Booster Club for every gallon of gas bought from their Spirit pumps.

The Pride gas stations in St. Charles, owned by local fuel wholesaler Parent Petroleum, have a designated Spirit Pump at each location that will raise money for high school athletics every time they are used.

For every gallon bought at the Spirit pumps, a portion will be donated to the St. Charles Athletic Booster Club. The fundraiser also is inciting a bit of competition as the school whose pump raises the most money will earn a bonus donation at the end of the fundraiser.

The pump at The Pride of St. Charles, 1505 Lincoln Highway, will benefit St. Charles North High School.

The pump at The Pride of Kane County, 3025 E. Main St. will benefit St. Charles East High School.

Parent Petroleum is a family-owned and operated business that has been operating in St. Charles for more than 40 years. The Pride gas stations in St. Charles are two of 16 stations they operate in Illinois in addition to several local businesses such as 93 Octane Brewery and Urban Counter restaurant.

Owner Mario Spina said they have done Spirit Pump fundraisers many times before at other locations to raise money for schools and local organizations in Kane County, including once in St. Charles to raise money for Living Well Cancer Resource Center. This is their first time collaborating with the St. Charles Athletic Booster Club and the first time there will be two stations participating in one community.

“We really want to be close to the communities we serve. Thats why we call ourselves The Pride of whatever community we’re in.”

—  Mario Spina, owner of The Pride gas stations

Spina said he started the fundraising concept as a way to give back and get the community involved. He said while nobody gets excited to buy gas, the Spirit pumps are a fun way for people to feel good about putting money back into the community and help their local schools.

“We really want to be close to the communities we serve,” Spina said. “Thats why we call ourselves The Pride of whatever community we’re in.”

Paul Lencioni is a St. Charles alderperson and treasurer of the St. Charles North Booster Club. He said Spina works with many local charities and is always looking for ways to give back to the community.

Lencioni said since the schools are government entities, it can be a challenge for the business community to connect with and support them, which is what makes the Spirit Pump fundraiser so special.

Lencioni said the booster club is a volunteer organization that supports St. Charles athletics in several ways, from funding equipment and gear to sponsoring tournaments, scholarships and leadership classes for student-athletes. Coaches come to the booster club at the end of each year with proposals for new athletic programs and the club decides which they want to support.

“The booster club is just here to help give the parents, and now the business community, different ways to provide funds to support our local kids so they can achieve higher levels,” Lencioni said. “Its 100% volunteer, so every dollar goes to the kids.”

St. Charles residents who want to participate in the fundraising effort should look for the pumps with St. Charles high school logos at The Pride gas stations this summer.

“I hope a lot of people come out and we’re able to raise a lot of money for the schools,” Spina said.