HONOLULU -- Aloha Petroleum Ltd. and its 380 employees collected more than $18,000 in three months to help support Hawaii's babies. Most of the funds for the March of Dimes, Hawaii Chapter, were raised through sales of the "World's Finest" chocolate-covered almonds displayed at Aloha Petroleum's 30 Aloha Island Mart locations. Employees raised the rest of the funds by donating and participating in the 2010 Hawaii March for Babies walk on April 24.
"The health of Hawaii's keiki [babies] is important to all of us and hit very close to home with one of our employees. That's [image-nocss] why we support the March of Dimes and its efforts to prevent birth defects, premature births and infant mortality," said Richard Parry, president and CEO of Aloha Petroleum, who presented a check for $18,575 to Carmella Hernandez, state director of the March of Dimes, Hawaii Chapter , at the retailer's Dillingham location.
"I'd like to thank all our customers and employees who helped raise this money," added Parry.
Aloha Petroleum employee Karen Boyer, who was also on hand for the check presentation, received support from the March of Dimes following the premature birth of her daughter, Liane. Liane was born at Kapiolani Hospital for Women & Children three months premature and weighed only 1.1 lbs, making her one of the smallest babies at the hospital at the time. Thanks to the March of Dimes, Liane is now a healthy and happy nine-year-old.
The check presentation also included Catherine Cox and her four-year-old daughter Olivia, another March of Dimes success story. Although Olivia was born full term and weighed 8 lbs. and 9 oz., she suffered from persistent pulmonary hypertension and was admitted to the newborn intensive care unit at Kapiolani Hospital for Women & Children. The March of Dimes provided funding for extensive research into Olivia's condition. The child received the treatment she needed and is now healthy and attending preschool.
"The funds raised by Aloha Petroleum will go a long way in helping us save Hawaii's babies," said Hernandez. "When we hear stories like Liane's and Olivia's, we know we're making a difference. Companies like Aloha Petroleum make this possible."
Aloha Petroleum is an independently owned and locally operated petroleum marketer and convenience store operator, with a history in Hawaii that dates back to the early 1900s. Aloha employs approximately 380 Hawaii residents, and operates more than 50 fueling locations on Oahu and the Big Island of Hawaii.
[Pictured (left to right): Catherine and Olivia Cox; Larry Adams, Aloha Petroleum director of sales and marketing; Karen Boyer of Aloha Petroleum; Richard Parry, Aloha Petroleum president and CEO; Gary Altman, Aloha Petroleum general manager of company operated stores; and Carmella Hernandez, state director of the March of Dimes, Hawaii Chapter.]
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