PORTSMOUTH, N.H. -- As Irving Oil, an energy refiner and provider in the Northeast, grows across New England into the Southern New England region, it's bringing with it a new kind of fuel company experience. Irving's first campaign in the region, called the New England Neighbor Initiative, includes an element of charitable giving, something long-time observers of the company have witnessed for years.
"We want our new neighbors to know that we're not just a place to fill up your tank, we're a new part of this community, and we want to make things better here, too," said Harry [image-nocss] Hadiaris, general manager for Irving Oil Marketing.
New England Neighbor Initiative, which introduces Irving as "new to the neighborhood, not so new to gasoline or to being neighborly" (a nod to the company's beginnings in nearby Atlantic Canada in the 1920s), features an online contest focused on giving back.
By visiting irvingoil.com/neighbor, individuals are invited to nominate local nonprofit programs or organizations they think Irving should support. A total of 12 nonprofits from across all of New England will each receive a $2,000 grant from Irving. Winning individual nominators will also receive a $200 Irving gas card and the first 1,000 people who nominate their favorite charity will be thanked for their participation with an Irving fuel discount card worth 25 cents off per gallon.
The first three winning organizations were presented with their grants and prizes July 31 at the Irving station in Bridgewater, Mass., owned and operated by Tom Pratt of South Coast Distributors.
Winners include: The Massachusetts Lobstermen's Association Scholarship Fund in Scituate, Mass, nominated by Bernie Feeney The Cranberry Educational Foundation in East Wareham, Mass, nominated by Dawn Gates-Allen Horizon's for Homeless Children in Roxbury, Mass, nominated by Chaseedaw Giles The New England Neighbor Initiative runs through Aug. 31, 2009. The remaining nine winners will be awarded in September at their own local Irving stations throughout Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Maine, Vermont and Connecticut.
Founded in 1924, Portsmouth, N.H.-based Irving Oil is a regional refining and marketing company serving customers in New England and Eastern Canada with a range of finished energy products, including gasoline, diesel, home heating fuel, lubricants, jet fuel and complementary products and services.
Photo Caption: Bridgewater Irving manager Lainie Fortin (far right) awards the first winners of the Irving New England Neighbor Initiative. Included (left to right) are: Maureen Jerz of Horizons for Homeless Children; Dawn Gates-Allen, who nominated the Cranberry Educational Foundation; David Casoni of the Mass. Lobstermen's Association Scholarship Fund; Mariah Gates-Allen (Dawn Gates-Allen's daughter); Peter Beaton of the Cranberry Educational Foundation; Nicole Gates-Allen (Dawn Gates-Allen's daughter); and Bernie Feeney who nominated the Mass. Lobstermen's Association Scholarship Fund.
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