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Pilot Salutes Veterans with Free Meals and Funds for Career Development

Business

Pilot Salutes Veterans with Free Meals and Funds for Career Development
Business

Business

Pilot Salutes Veterans with Free Meals and Funds for Career Development

2026-10-24 01:00 Last Updated At:01:10

KNOXVILLE, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct 23, 2026--

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20261023167570/en/

As part of Pilot’s Miles of Good giving program, the annual fundraising campaign builds on the company's longstanding partnership with the Call of Duty Endowment and its efforts to help veterans bring their skills and experiences into high-quality careers after military service. From October 19 through November 15, 2026, guests may round up their purchases to the nearest dollar at participating Pilot and Flying J travel centers. The Endowment will receive 100% of roundup funds.

“We are all indebted to our nation’s veterans and active-duty members for their service and sacrifice, and it’s our privilege to say thank you for all they’ve given to our country,” said Sean Marrero, president of retail at Pilot. “We’re grateful to the Call of Duty Endowment for helping us turn that appreciation into action by supporting veterans’ career journeys.”

Since 2019, Pilot guests and team members have contributed more than $6 million to the Call of Duty Endowment, helping over 10,000 veterans successfully transition to civilian careers.

“Veterans bring valuable skills and experience to the workforce, and they massively benefit from support that prepares them to compete in the civilian job market,” said Dan Goldenberg, president of the Call of Duty Endowment. “Pilot’s round-up campaign gives customers a meaningful way to assist with this mission to support veteran careers. We are grateful for Pilot’s continued generosity and commitment to helping veterans build their next chapter.”

On Veterans Day, November 11, 2026, veterans and active-duty service members verified through ID.me may claim a complimentary sandwich and coffee or fountain drink in the Pilot app at participating Pilot and Flying J locations. Year-round, Pilot offers savings to verified service members and their families through the Pilot app, including 10% off food and beverages.

Pilot is proud to employ veterans across its nationwide network and encourages former service members and transitioning military personnel to explore career opportunities at jobs.pilotcompany.com. Learn more about Pilot’s Miles of Good program at pilotcompany.com/miles-of-good.

For more about the Call of Duty Endowment, visit callofdutyendowment.org.

About Pilot

Pilot Travel Centers LLC (“Pilot”) keeps North America’s drivers moving as the leading energy and experience provider people rely on to fuel their journeys. Founded in 1958 and headquartered in Knoxville, Tennessee, Pilot is a wholly owned subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway Inc. and employs approximately 30,000 team members. As the largest network of travel centers, Pilot has more than 900 locations in 43 states and five Canadian provinces, serving an average of 1.2 million guests per day. In addition to travel center services, Pilot and its partners offer trucking fleets a variety of solutions for fuel, credit, factoring, maintenance and rewards. The company operates the third largest fuel tanker fleet in North America and supplies approximately 12 billion gallons of fuel per year. Pilot is committed to shaping the future of energy as one of the largest providers of biodiesel and renewable fuels and through the development of its EV charging network and low-carbon fueling alternatives. For additional information about Pilot, visit PilotCompany.com.

About Call of Duty Endowment

The Call of Duty Endowment identifies and funds the most efficient and effective organizations that get unemployed and underemployed veterans back to work. Beyond funding, the Endowment partners with grantees to provide an array of advice and support aimed at maximizing impact.

Since the nonprofit’s inception in 2009, the Endowment has become one of the largest philanthropic funders of veteran employment. In total, the Endowment’s efforts have funded the placement of over 180,000 veterans into high-quality jobs and achieved over an estimated $11.6 billion in economic value for U.S. and U.K. veterans through salaries.

Visit www.callofdutyendowment.org for further details, including more ways to help the cause.

Pilot is proud to honor veterans and active-duty service members with a free meal on Veterans Day and invites guests to round up purchases to help veterans transition to civilian careers.

Pilot is proud to honor veterans and active-duty service members with a free meal on Veterans Day and invites guests to round up purchases to help veterans transition to civilian careers.

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Alexander Volkanovski stopped previously unbeaten Movsar Evloev at 4:54 of the second round Saturday to retain his featherweight championship at UFC 333.

The 38-year-old Australian overwhelmed Evloev with punches late in the round, sending the challenger to the canvas before the referee intervened with 6 seconds remaining.

Volkanovski (29-4) earned his ninth UFC featherweight title-fight win, tying Jose Aldo for the most in division history. Evloev (20-1) lost for the first time in 11 UFC appearances.

“I’m just glad that I had a No. 1 contender to fight, a clear one,” Volkanovski said.

Already the oldest fighter to win and defend the UFC featherweight championship, Volkanovski extended his success during his second reign atop the division. He improved to 16-3 in UFC, with all six of his stoppage victories coming by knockout or technical knockout.

Despite giving up size to the challenger, Volkanovski pressed the action early and repeatedly regained his footing after first-round takedowns. Evloev struggled to turn those opportunities into sustained control.

Volkanovski developed swelling and a cut beneath his left eye but continued finding openings with his punches. A right hand staggered Evloev in the second round, and Volkanovski followed with a barrage that left the challenger covering up on the canvas.

Evloev won each of his first 10 UFC appearances by decision, becoming the first fighter in promotion history to start his career with that many decision wins.

Afterward, Volkanovski welcomed more challengers in the division and said he wanted to keep competing.

“You got a lot of these guys that are trying to get that No. 1 spot,” Volkanovski said. “They’re pushing for it, and that’s what I like to see.”

In the co-main event, Petr Yan retained his bantamweight title with a unanimous decision over No. 1 contender Merab Dvalishvili.

Yan (21-5) turned back the former champion, who fell to 21-6.

Yan is in his second reign as bantamweight champion. Dvalishvili entered with a UFC-record 119 takedowns, including a title-fight record 20 against Cory Sandhagen.

Sixth-ranked flyweight Lone’er Kavanagh (11-2) stopped No. 10 Ramazan Temirov (20-3) at 4:28 of the first round. Kavanagh caught the advancing Temirov with a left uppercut, then followed with a flurry of punches to finish the bout.

Temirov suffered his first UFC loss after winning his first three appearances with the promotion.

Second-ranked heavyweight Alexander Volkov (41-11) celebrated his 38th birthday with a unanimous decision over No. 7 Rizvan Kuniev (15-4-1, one no-contest), then pleaded for a championship opportunity.

“What should I do to get a title shot? Answer me, please,” Volkov said.

The former Bellator heavyweight champion earned his 15th victory in 20 UFC appearances.

In a featherweight bout, No. 11 Aaron Pico (15-5) stopped Losene Keita (17-3) at 1:14 of the first round. Pico dropped Keita with a straight right hand before finishing him with a flurry of punches.

See AP’s full sports coverage here

Russia's Rizvan Kuniev, left, punches Alexander Volkov during a heavyweight bout at the mixed martial arts UFC Fight Night on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

Russia's Rizvan Kuniev, left, punches Alexander Volkov during a heavyweight bout at the mixed martial arts UFC Fight Night on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

Russia's Alexander Volkov, left, punches Rizvan Kuniev during a heavyweight bout at the mixed martial arts UFC Fight Night on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

Russia's Alexander Volkov, left, punches Rizvan Kuniev during a heavyweight bout at the mixed martial arts UFC Fight Night on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

Lone'er Kavanagh of Britain, left, punches Uzbekistan's Ramazan Temirov, during flyweight bout at the mixed martial arts UFC Fight Night on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

Lone'er Kavanagh of Britain, left, punches Uzbekistan's Ramazan Temirov, during flyweight bout at the mixed martial arts UFC Fight Night on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

Russia's Petr Yan, left, punches Merab Dvalishvili of Georgia during the Bantamweight title bout at the mixed martial arts UFC Fight Night on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

Russia's Petr Yan, left, punches Merab Dvalishvili of Georgia during the Bantamweight title bout at the mixed martial arts UFC Fight Night on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

Russia's Petr Yan, right, celebrates with his fans after beating Merab Dvalishvili of Georgia to win the Bantamweight title bout at the mixed martial arts UFC Fight Night on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

Russia's Petr Yan, right, celebrates with his fans after beating Merab Dvalishvili of Georgia to win the Bantamweight title bout at the mixed martial arts UFC Fight Night on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

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