Community Service Roundup, August 2021

CHICAGO — This month’s community service roundup features five convenience-store retailers and one supplier giving back.

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In August, Casey’s General Stores, Ankeny, Iowa, ran a campaign that helped fund grants for schools across the 16 states where the retailer operates.

Customers could round up their purchases to help fund the chain’s Cash for Classrooms Grant Program, which provides funds for projects that benefit K-12 public, nonprofit and private schools. Casey’s also donated $1 for every large pizza purchase completed on Aug. 30, up to $100,000.

Keurig Dr Pepper helped with the efforts, too. The Plano, Texas-based beverage company donated $1 for every three-for-$5 combination of Core Hydration water purchased, up to $25,000.

Global Partners, Waltham, Mass., is joining the Shell Giving Pump Program through September to raise funds for The Genesis Foundation for Children.

Customers can support the cause by filling up at the specially marked pumps at one of the nine participating locations across New England. For every gallon of fuel sold at the decorated pump, 1 cent per gallon will be donated up to $1,800.

The Genesis Foundation for Children funds programs and services that treat families affected by rare diseases and genetic disorders.

Wawa, Wawa, Pa., raised money in August for the Philadelphia Eagles Foundation’s annual Eagles Autism Challenge event held Aug. 21 at Lincoln Financial Field.

In addition to a $5,000 donation to the Eagles Autism Challenge, Wawa also sold its Swoop Shake for a limited time to raise funds and awareness for the event. The milkshake was made with vanilla soft serve, mint flavor, whipped cream and Eagles green sprinkles.

“Wawa is proud to expand on its annual support of the Eagles Autism Challenge by adding a new limited-edition specialty beverage that brings more awareness and funds to the important work the Eagles Autism Foundation is doing to support the autism community,” said Alex Costabile, vice president of strategy at Wawa. “While the beverage is sure to satisfy ones’ sweet tooth, we hope it provides our customers with even more satisfaction knowing that together, we are helping advance research and programming for individuals with autism.”

In addition, Wawa served as the presenting sponsor of the Wawa Junior, Wawa Shorti and Wawa Classic bike rides.

Sheetz raised more than $780,000 in July in its annual Sheetz For the Kidz campaign. The employee-driven charity supports underprivileged children, according to the Altoona, Pa.-based c-store chain.

“We are extremely appreciative of our customers and their ongoing generosity,” said Brittany Funcheon, executive director for Sheetz For the Kidz. “As we continue through these challenging times, our customers continue to amaze us by their desire to give back. Thanks to their donations, Sheetz For the Kidz will be able to make the upcoming holiday season brighter for thousands of local children and families in need.”

Every year, during July and December, Sheetz customers can support children in their communities through donation boxes near the register and at checkout. Sheetz provides children in need with the opportunity to celebrate the holidays with gifts such as new toys, clothes and other basic-needs items.

Working with the Salvation Army, Sheetz employees shop, wrap and host holiday parties for the children and their families. Last year, more than $1.8 million was distributed.

The campaign also works with Make-A-Wish to sponsor wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions and Feeding America to provide food to children in need.

Other ways to support Sheetz For the Kids throughout the year include purchasing a Sheetz For the Kidz bottled water, shopping AmazonSmile or on the Amazon app and selecting “Sheetz For the Kidz” as a charity of choice, and donating online at www.sheetzforthekidz.org.

Love’s, Oklahoma City, Okla., kicked off a campaign to benefit the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. To support the campaign, which helps improve children’s health, customers can donate at every Love’s Travel Stop, Country Store, Truck Care, Love’s-owned hotel and participating Speedco locations through Sept. 30.

To donate, customers can buy a paper balloon for $1, $5, $10 or $20 or round up their change to the nearest dollar at the register. Stores will also hold raffles, fundraisers and sell CMN Hospitals merchandise.

On Sept. 29 for National Coffee Day, customers can purchase any size coffee through the Love’s Connect app for $1 at Love’s with all proceeds going to CMN Hospitals.

Love’s has raised more than $35 million for children since its partnership with CMN Hospitals began in 1999.

Molson Coors, Chicago, is helping Latino nonprofit leaders and volunteers through its 15th annual Coors Light Lideres program. Coors Light will help five Latinos empower their communities by awarding $10,000 grants for their nonprofit organizations.

"Lack of funding and resources create a steep climb for the Latino nonprofit leaders and volunteers who work tirelessly for the betterment of their communities,” said Kayla Garcia, manager of community affairs for Molson Coors. “We want them to know that Coors Light is here to help them. We’re committed to recognize Latino leaders for their community impact and continue to assist them in achieving great things for years to come.”

Winners selected as Lideres will also receive access to the Change Makers Alumni Network. Applications and nominations are open through Sept. 21 at CoorsLightLideres.com.

Since the Coors Light Lideres program launched in 2006, 14 Latino nonprofit organizations have been awarded more than $350,000 in grants. Molson Coors also launched Project Justice in 2020, a program dedicated to the empowerment, equity, community building and justice for BIPOC organizations. That program has donated $3 million since its launch in the United States and Canada.