BECKLEY, W. Va. – The West Virginia Oil Marketers and Grocers Association (OMEGA) recently presented the Children’s Miracle Network with a check for $175,249 that was raised during a month-long fundraising effort by OMEGA members. 

“This was an amazing campaign with an amazing result.  The Children’s Miracle Network is a fantastic organization and a wonderful cause.  Our members truly got behind this fundraising campaign to help West Virginia kids fight disease and injury,” OMEGA Executive Director Jan Vineyard said in a press release.

Vineyard added that OMEGA members sold “Miracle” balloons to their customers for $1 and that proceeds from the sale of the balloons were matched by each participating company. Additionally, nine OMEGA members held their own mini-campaign where they donated a penny or more for every gallon of gasoline sold at their stores on August 9. OMEGA member ExxonMobil Fuel Marketing also provided a significant donation to support the effort and sponsored a charity golf outing.

“I’d truly like to thank the public and the many city, county and state-elected officials for their support of this worthwhile cause. If it wasn’t for their participation, we could not have been so successful,” noted Vineyard.

Cheryl Jones, administrator of West Virginia University’s Children’s Hospital and advocate for the Children’s Miracle Network, said in the release, “I want to thank the members of OMEGA and ExxonMobil for their monumental efforts on our behalf. This donation will benefit kids of every age and background in West Virginia."