TravelCenters of America LLC (TravelCenters), operator of the TA® and Petro Stopping Centers® travel center brands, announces another record-setting annual campaign donation to the St. Christopher Truckers Development and Relief Fund (SCF). As a result of customer and employee donations during its annual ‘Band Together for SCF’ campaign, and summer trade show fundraising events, TravelCenters today presented a check for $295,843.16 to the SCF.

Each year TravelCenters leads the charge to exceed the previous year’s donations to the SCF. By rallying customers and employees around the single cause of helping professional drivers who are suffering financial hardship due to medical problems, TravelCenters has worked to help raise nearly $1.4 million since 2010 for the Fund.

The donation monies were generously given by customers and employees during TravelCenters’ fifth annual ‘Band Together’ campaign, which ran during August at 250 TA and Petro Stopping Centers locations nationwide, as well as during recent professional driver events, including the TA Walcott Truckers Jamboree, Expedite Expo, and the Great American Trucking Show.

“Our customers and employees continue to amaze -- their generosity and drive to contribute to the well-being of disadvantaged truck drivers,” shared Tom O’Brien, President and CEO of TravelCenters. “Helping to raise these dollars also contributes to TravelCenters’ goal of treating professional drivers with the respect they deserve. Drivers can tend to their health issues and focus on returning to work with assistance from SCF to help with monthly bills. Helping to remove some of the financial burden is like lifting a weight off their shoulders. And, it’s what we can do to help thank them for the loads they pull on the road each day,” he continued.

During the ‘Band Together’ campaign events at TA and Petro sites and trade shows, guests and employees are invited to make donations of $1 or $5. Those making $1 donations receive a commemorative wristband. New this year, antique silver SCF keychains were offered for donations of $5 or more. One hundred percent of all donations have gone to the SCF.

“I couldn’t be more grateful to TravelCenters for managing these fundraising efforts on SCF’s behalf, or their customers and employees who make these donations,” said Dr. Donna Kennedy, Executive Director of the SCF. “To date, the SCF has helped 1,075 professional drivers with financial assistance with utility bills, mortgage payments and other monthly bills. The generous donations – made dollar by dollar – have made it possible for us to pay out more than $700,000 to help drivers in need,” she continued.

Dr. Kennedy and Tom Liutkus, Vice President of Marketing & Public Relations for TravelCenters, will talk about the SCF and the Band Together campaign on Dave Nemo’s show on the RoadDog Trucking channel, SiriusXM 146 on Thursday, September 25, 2014, at 8:30 a.m. CT. Dave Nemo is one of the founders of SCF.

About TravelCenters of America LLC

TravelCenters of America LLC (TravelCenters), headquartered in Westlake, Ohio, is a leading travel center business in 43 states and Canada operating under the TA® and Petro Stopping Centers® brands. With 250 convenient full-service locations off interstate highway exits, TA and Petro Stopping Centers offer customers diesel and gasoline fueling services, more than 500 full- and quick-service restaurants, 24-hour convenience stores, heavy truck maintenance services, RoadSquad Connect™ (24/7/365 emergency roadside service), Reserve-It™ (truck parking reservations), and many other services – all within large, high traffic facilities. TravelCenters also operates gasoline/convenience stores in Kentucky and Tennessee under the Minit Mart brand name. For more information on TravelCenters and TA, please visit www.tatravelcenters.com. For more information on Petro Stopping Centers, please visit www.petrotruckstops.com.

About St. Christopher Truckers Development and Relief Fund

The St. Christopher Truckers Development and Relief Fund (SCF) is a 501(c)(3), nonprofit organization that provides financial assistance to professional truck drivers who have medical problems and are suffering financial hardship. For more information, please visit www.truckersfund.org or call (865) 202-9428.