BECKLEY, W.Va. -- A West Virginia-based convenience store chain pledged Tuesday to donate $50,000 to Remember the Miners, a nonprofit group that raises money and awareness for coal miners and their families.
Bob Huggins, West Virginia University men's basketball coach and honorary chairman of Remember the Miners, accepted the pledge Tuesday from Little General Stores in Beckley, according to a news release.
In 2011, Remember the Miners issued more than $25,000 in scholarships to miners, dependents of miners and students pursuing higher education within the industry. The nonprofit organization also donated $40,000 to the Norma Mae Huggins Cancer Research Endowment Fund at WVU, which was matched with state funds bringing the total to $80,000. The fund was named after Huggins' mother, who died in 2003 of colon cancer.
"Little General demonstrates once again that they are committed to coal mining families living and working in the communities in which they serve," said WVU student Jason Parsons, Remember the Miners president. "In 2012, we will continue to work with Little General to bring awareness to the hard work and commitment of the American coal miner."
In the past, Little General has joined Remember the Miners to launch a concert series at stores throughout the state featuring local musical artists. The stores have also sold items to benefit the organization.