News

Created Monday, July 19, 2021

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

GREENFIELD –Pride Investment Partners recently donated a parcel of land to the town of Shirley that town officials envision as the future centerpiece of a long-awaited trail.

The parcel of land, which sits east of the Marathon gas station near Shirley’s downtown, measures 1,780 feet by 102 feet, and was formerly property of GasAmerica Services, which owned and operated the now-Marathon-owned service station for several years.

Shirley officials said the piece of land is important to their upcoming walking trail, which will be roughly a mile long and will connect the town’s historical district, park and sports fields. Construction on the asphalt trail project is expected to begin this summer, said Shirley Clerk/Treasurer Teresa Hester.

While the first phase of the project includes the asphalt trail, Hester said she and other officials hope to have parking spaces installed where events like a farmer’s market could take place without disrupting traffic. She also envisions beautifying the parcel with trees.

In addition, town officials in the future hope to be able to upgrade its sports facilities, add fitness stations, and create signage on the trail highlighting some of the town’s historical sites.

The project is part of the Health and Heritage Region – Fortville, Greenfield, Hancock County, Stellar Communities Designation Program. Funding for this project is provided through a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Community Development Block Grant through the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs.

Shirley, a town of about 830 people that sits on the border between Hancock and Henry counties, was established in 1890 when the Cincinnati, Wabash, and Michigan Railway was built to that point.

Pride Investment Partners, a real estate and private equity investment development company, is helmed by Keith White and Stephanie White-Longworth. White and White-Longworth stand as the fourth generation involved in the petroleum and convenience store industries.

They stepped into leadership positions in 1998, taking the helm for the GasAmerica gas station and convenience stores. They sold GasAmerica Services to Marathon in 2012 and have started a new retail effort with Leo’s Market and Eatery. The unique stores, which feature a fresh market, eatery, convenience favorites and gas services, currently have locations in Greenfield and Noblesville, with two more planned to open in the next 12 months.

 

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For more information, please contact: Rorye Hatcher| Marketing and Communications Associate | Rorye.hatcher@prideip.com | 317-468-2515 x. 228 | c. 618-731-8256

 

 

Created Monday, May 31, 2021

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

GREENFIELD – Leo’s Market and Eatery employees are using their hard-earned money to support furry friends in need of a home.

Through a voluntary paycheck contribution program, employees gathered $2,595 and voted to contribute the funds to the Hancock County Humane Society, a no-kill, non-profit animal shelter operating in the county since 1977.

Some $9,800 has been donated to several county nonprofit organizations through the Pride’s Purpose community enrichment fund.  This is the third such event held since the Greenfield Leo’s Market and Eatery location, 2212 W. Main St., opened in July 2019.

When a new employee is hired at Leo’s Market and Eatery, one of the first things they do is decide whether to make a charitable donation of a portion of each paycheck into the fund.

Leo’s Market and Eatery matches 100% of each of those donations, meaning for every dollar donated by employees, Leo’s also contributes a dollar to the fund. Leo’s Market and Eatery encourages employees to donate part of each paycheck to support its core values, including community mindedness.

Leo’s and Pride Investment Partners also pursue sponsorships, dine-to-donate events, volunteering and making donations to local nonprofit organizations. Past contributions have gone to the Landing Place, the Hope House homeless shelter, and Mental Health Partners of Hancock County.

The Humane Society houses an average of 40 cats every day, either in its shelter or in the homes of volunteer foster parents, said Beverly Reece, Hancock County Humane Society treasurer and adoption coordinator.

The contributions made by Leo’s Market and Eatery employees will go toward operating costs, which in the summer include increased air conditioning bills, along with the usual veterinary bills for spays, neuters, and other healthcare for the cats, which is included in the cost of adopting from the Humane Society, Reece said.

Tami White, Pride Investment Partners board member, said employees decisively chose the Humane Society to donate to during this round.

Getting to watch employees choose where their contributions go and getting excited about improving the community is a powerful thing, she added.

“It’s their money, and that goes a long way,” she said.

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Leo’s Market and Eatery is a hybrid grocery and restaurant, serving delicious fresh-baked kolaches, salads, soups, and much more, and providing fresh, local produce, meat and groceries to the community. There are locations in Greenfield and Noblesville, with a third planned in McCordsville.

For more information, please contact: Rorye Hatcher| Marketing and Communications Associate | Rorye.hatcher@prideip.com | 317-468-2515 x. 228 | c. 618-731-8256

CONTACT INFORMATION:

Leo’s Market and Eatery

Rorye Hatcher

317-468-2515 ext. 228

Rorye.hatcher@prideip.com

 

Release date:

April 28, 2021

 

GREENFIELD, INDIANA – Local business Leo’s Market and Eatery recently donated $4,000 to support Hancock County’s soup kitchen.

Kenneth Butler Memorial Soup Kitchen kicks off its Feed the Future campaign May 1, an effort to grow its financial bedrock to maintain its mission of providing hot meals to those in need. The soup kitchen currently holds an endowment of $75,000 through the Hancock County Community Foundation and aims to raise an additional $25,000 during the campaign, which ends Dec. 31, 2021.

Leo’s Market and Eatery is one of four groups or families to donate dollar-for-dollar matching funds in advance of the Feed the Future campaign, to help make sure the organization gets to its $100,000 goal.

Leo’s stepped up to support the soup kitchen because it is an integral part of the Hancock County community, said Stephanie White-Longworth, president of Leo’s Market and Eatery.

“The soup kitchen is an amazing organization that we are proud to be able to support,” she said. “The volunteers and staff who prepare those meals and care for everyone who comes through the door are a blessing to the community, and one of Leo’s Market and Eatery’s core values is to give back to the communities we operate in.”

Leo’s Market and Eatery has contributed to the soup kitchen in the past, including donations of kolaches to the kitchen’s pantry, White-Longworth said.

The soup kitchen, which opened its doors in December 2008, faced unique challenges last year through the pandemic, said director Jill Ebbert. Social distancing restrictions forced the kitchen at 202 E. Main St. in Greenfield to move to takeout only. The organization adapted, building a tent within the building to allow clients to pick up their meals in a warm area instead of standing outside through the winter months, Ebbert said.

Despite the limitations imposed by protecting clients, volunteers and staff from COVID-19, the kitchen in 2020 provided 23,491 hot meals, an 18 percent increase from 2019, Ebbert said.

And with the soup kitchen facing shortfalls from canceled events, the community stepped up in a big way, making generous donations that gave the organization its best financial year since its inception, she said.

“It was the right time to build on our endowment,” she said. “We are extremely grateful to the donors who are matching the funds, because with their help, we are hoping to surpass that $100,000 goal.”

Leo’s Market and Eatery, which opened in Greenfield in July 2019, is a hybrid market and eatery focused on providing fresh and local food options to customers to help them conquer their day. Visit yourleos.com for more information.

 

Left: Leo’s Market and Eatery employees present a check for $2,900 to Mental Health Partners of Hancock County; right: Leo’s Market and Eatery employees present a check for $2,900 to The Landing Place.

GREENFIELD, INDIANA – Employees of Leo’s Market and Eatery on Tuesday donated some $5,800 to two local nonprofits through a paycheck contribution program.

Through compiled weekly donations, employees provided $2,900 each to The Landing Place and Mental Health Partners of Hancock County during the second-annual “Pride’s Purpose” presentation. Their weekly contributions into the Leo’s Community Enrichment Fund are matched dollar for dollar by parent company Pride Investment Partners.

A few weeks ago, managers at Leo’s Market and Eatery, 2212 W. Main St., Greenfield, asked employees to help decide where their money should go back into the community. Employees submitted their votes from a list of nearly 20 entities serving Hancock County and the surrounding area.

Leo’s Market and Eatery encourages employees to donate part of each paycheck to support its core values, including community mindedness. Leo’s and Pride Investment Partners also pursue sponsorships, dine-to-donate events, volunteering and making donations to local nonprofit organizations.

Leo’s Market and Eatery boasts a tremendous team, said Tami White, Pride Investment Partners board member.

“Our employees truly care about our community and their customers, so when they are given a chance to support Hancock County, it just comes very natural for them,” White said. “This is one of many perks of being in a small-town community.”

Last year, during the inaugural Customer Appreciation Day at Leo’s Market and Eatery, employees presented checks of $750 each to the Landing Place and the Hope House homeless shelter.

Employees this year again chose to support The Landing Place, a Greenfield nonprofit organization that provides a place for teens age 13-19 to meet and learn real-life strategies and principles to break the cycle of addiction, dysfunction and destructive behaviors while learning healthy patterns of living and maintaining lifelong sobriety.

Founder Linda Ostewig said it’s heartwarming to receive continued support for the youth-oriented organization, which has maintained an attendance of about 20 young people to its Wednesday evening events despite Covid-19 lowering turnout.

“I love that people love our youth,” she said. “Things like this help us stay sustainable.”

Leo’s employees chose Mental Health Partners of Hancock County as the second recipient of this year’s donations. Mental Health Partners is dedicated to improving the quality of life for people affected by mental illness through advocacy, education, and support services. Some of the programs MHP oversees throughout the year include connecting county residents to resources in their communities; counseling and support groups; providing backpacks to people experiencing homelessness; and an addiction recovery program.

“I am so surprised,” said executive director Kim Hall. “This is wonderful news for the year we’ve had.”

She said her organization has received more requests for assistance in getting mental health help than ever – helping get 15 people into addiction recovery houses and dozens more find counseling or psychiatric resources.

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Leo’s Market and Eatery in Greenfield is a hybrid grocery and restaurant, serving delicious fresh-baked kolaches, salads, soups, and much more, and providing fresh, local produce, meat and groceries to the community. Two additional locations are under construction in the McCordsville and Noblesville areas.

 

For more information, please contact: Rorye Hatcher| Marketing and Communications Associate | Rorye.hatcher@prideip.com | 317-468-2515 x. 228 | c. 618-731-8256

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