SUMMERDALE, Ala. — Boys living at Baldwin County’s Sheriffs’ Boys Ranch in Summerdale received a big boost as BP gas station owners announced their commitment to supporting local organizations through BP’s Fueling Communities Program.

The Fueling Communities Program provides grants to local organizations that are nominated by BP Branded Marketers to support the communities in which they do business. The program allows local marketers to support organizations that focus on health, education, youth, food, and housing to spread charity and goodwill, wherever they operate.

Gary Cox, president of Gas-N-Go Oil Co. Inc. of Fairhope, met with Jim Harmon, manager of the Boys Ranch, to present a check for $3,250. Also in attendance for the ceremony was Larry Wilson, owner and operator of Dixie Oaks BP station in Summerdale.

“The monies awarded from BP to the Alabama Sheriffs’ Youth Ranch in Baldwin County will be used to bring our swimming pool to code to include standard requirements for the safety, health and well-being of our youth who reside full time at the Ranch,” said Harmon.

When inspected by the health department this year, the Ranch was informed that the pool was unsafe for the residents. In addition to having a Vac Alert system installed, the Ranch will be purchasing two ladders, a flow meter and a sign.

“When I learned that we were able to provide this money to a non-profit organization in our community, the Sheriffs’ Boys Ranch immediately came to mind,” said Cox. “I have previously donated on behalf of the Mobile and Baldwin County BP retailers supplied by Gas-N-Go and knew that this was a cause I wanted to continue to support.”

For more information about the Baldwin County Sheriffs’ Boys Ranch, visit www.sheriffsranch.org/baldwin or to learn about other ways BP gas stations are making an impact through the Fueling Communities program, visit www.mybpstation.com.

The BP Fueling Communities program provides grants to local organizations that are nominated by BP’s Branded Marketers to support the communities in which they do business. The Fueling Communities program gives back to local organizations that support health, education, youth, food and housing to spread charity and goodwill.

In 1984, the Baldwin County Boys Ranch was established in Summerdale on land that was donated by John B. Foley. The campus now includes two ranch homes, chapel, gym, pool, office, two staff houses, the boys’ college home, and support buildings. The boys attend Foley First Baptist church on Sundays and Wednesdays. Ranchers attend Foley and Summerdale schools where they participate in activities such as sports, academic clubs, band, and ROTC. Highlights for the year include: annual fishing and beach trips, concerts, campouts, church youth activities including mission trips, and cookouts. The operating budget is raised almost exclusively from corporate and private-sector donations as well as fundraising events.

In 1974, Gas-N-Go Oil Co. Inc. was established by Gary and Tina Cox of Fairhope. In the years following, Gas-N-Go has served as owner/operator of many locations and currently distributes BP product. Gas-N-Go currently serves stores in Mobile County, Baldwin County, and Jackson County, Miss. All of the stores are currently independently owned and support the communities in which they are located.