Fund aiding truckers gets $205,000 in 2 contributions

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Updated Aug 28, 2016

An organization that helps truckers who have fallen on hard times because of health issues has the opportunity to help even more drivers thanks to two contributions made today at the Great American Trucking Show in Dallas.

Blue Tiger donated $105,000 to the St. Christopher Fund.Blue Tiger donated $105,000 to the St. Christopher Fund.

The St. Christopher Truckers Development and Relief Fund received $105,000 from Blue Tiger and TA Petro and $100,000 from the National Association of Independent Truckers.

David King, vice president of association and programs for NAIT, said his organization was happy to make the contribution because of the work the St. Christopher organization does for truckers how may be members.

“We believe in what they do,” said King. “They can leverage that money better than we can. That money can go further and that’s good.”

Julie Dillon of the St. Christopher Fund said the NAIT’s contribution could help between 80 and 100 truck drivers having financial difficulty because of an injury or illness. She said the funds can be used to help injured and sidelined truckers meet financial obligations such as mortgages and truck payments.

Tom Liutkus, vice president of marketing and public relations for TA Petro, accepted the contribution in his role as president of the board of directors of the St. Christopher Fund.

National Association of Independent Truckers donated $100,000 to the St. Christopher fund.National Association of Independent Truckers donated $100,000 to the St. Christopher fund.

Then Liutkus had the opportunity to be on the giving end of another contribution to the organization.

TA Petro teamed up with Blue Tiger to raise funds for St. Christopher. Combined they created a promotion that had $10 from the sale of every Blue Tiger Bluetooth Elite headset was contributed St. Cristopher.

Tyler Gillespie, vice president of marketing for Blue Tiger, said they had hoped to raise $80,000 for the non-profit. Instead, he  and Blue Tiger President Fieras Saah presented a check for $105,000.

“We’re excited to support the professional drivers who work so hard, and who are the backbone of this country’s economy,” said Gillespie.

Liutkus said Blue Tiger came to him with the idea of a promotion to raise funds of St. Christopher. He said it became a nice way to find a product of value that drivers could purchase and help other drivers.

Gillespie said Blue Tiger expects to have another check for St. Christopher before the end of the year.