Community Service Roundup: Initiatives by 9 Retailers (May 2017)
By Kristina Hurtig on May 16, 2017CHICAGO -- This community-service roundup features charitable acts from convenience-store retailers, suppliers and Bruno Mars. Click through to find out who the singer-songwriter is partnering with to support projects all over the country ...
Alta Convenience
In the past year, Alta Convenience stores in Colorado, New Mexico, Kansas and Nebraska have raised $53,057 for Make-A-Wish. In the past four years they have raised more than $200,000.
Pester Marketing, Denver, Colo., is the parent company of Alta Convenience.
CITGO
The Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) gave Houston-based CITGO an award and a white coat for its commitment to funding treatments and cures for neuromuscular diseases. CITGO has raised more than $200 million in support of MDA’s mission through various events and programs, including golf tournaments, distinguished events and MDA’s Shamrock’s program.
GPM Investments
Richmond, Va.-based GPM Investments’ 2016 MDA Holiday Fundraising Program in December raised more than $190,000 to help children and adults with muscular dystrophy, ALS and related muscle-debilitating diseases.
More than 700 GPM convenience stores throughout the East Coast and Midwest, including Fas Mart, Shore Stop, Scotchman, Village Pantry, Apple Market, BreadBox, Li’l Cricket, Next Door Store and Young’s, participated in a fundraising program in which customers purchased paper pinups for $1.
QMart
Northwest Petroleum’s QMart convenience store donated $20,000 to the Partnership for Drug-Free Kids, a national organization that helps families coping with drug abuse by providing counseling support and other resources. Northwest Petroleum is based in Houston.
Rutter's Farm Stores
Ten charities have been selected to participate in Rutter’s Vote With Your Dollars program. They are: Adams County SPCA, Diakon Adoption and Foster Care, House of Hope in York, Leg Up Farm, Make-A-Wish Greater PA & WV, Ryan's Hope, TrueNorth, Wellness Services, West York Borough Police K9 Unit, York Habitat for Humanity and York Jewish Community Center.
Customers select the charity of their choosing and every dollar spent at the pump or inside any Rutter’s store counts as a vote toward that selected charity. The winning three charities will receive the amount they requested. Votes will be collected through Oct. 31. Rutter's is based in York, Pa.
Speedway
Through donations from customers, vendor partners and employees, Speedway raised $10.9 million for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals in 2016. Enon, Ohio-based Speedway has raised more than $90 million for the charity since Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals became a corporate partner in 1991.
TravelCenters of America
Westlake, Ohio-based TravelCenters of America, operator of the TA and Petro Stopping Centers travel center brands, announced its fourth annual “Citizen Driver” honorees during a luncheon at the 2017 Mid-America Trucking Show in Louisville, Ky. Citizen Drivers not only have an exemplary career in trucking, they also demonstrate good citizenship, safety, community involvement and leadership.
Each driver picked their favorite TA or Petro Stopping Centers location, which will be named after them. The 2017 Citizen Drivers are:
- Marty Ellis – “Marty Ellis Rogers Travel Center” in Rogers, Minn.
- Idella M. Hansen – “Idella M. Hansen North Little Rock Stopping Center” in North Little Rock, Ark.
- Evan “Buddy” Haston – “Evan (Buddy) Haston Amarillo Stopping Center” in Amarillo, Texas
- Dick Pingel – “Dick Pingel Madison Travel Center” in Madison, Wis.
- Jim Wilcox – “Jim Wilcox Albuquerque Travel Center” in Albuquerque, N.M.
VERC Enterprises
Through a partnership with Hopeful Journeys Educational Center, Duxbury, Mass.-based VERC Enterprises has offered two students internships at a VERC location in Danvers, Mass. Hopeful Journeys Education Center is a private school that provides a comprehensive education to students ages 3 to 22 diagnosed with Autism.
Wawa
The Wawa Foundation is seeking nominations for its second annual Hero Award, an honor given to a nonprofit organization that is committed to serving the greater Philadelphia area. The recipient of the Hero Award will receive a $50,000 grant and the three runners up will each receive $10,000 grants. Qualifying organizations can submit applications through May 21. A public voting period will take place June 15-29, and the awards will be presented on July 4. The Wawa Foundation is a nonprofit corporation founded by Wawa Inc., Wawa, Pa.
Heineken
This summer, Heineken’s Cities Project is partnering with the Bruno Mars 24K Magic World Tour to help fund projects across the country while awarding tickets. Consumers can text CITIES to 88500 and get a direct link to the project’s custom Indiegogo partner page. From there they can check out the Heineken curated projects, select a concert in any city, donate to a project of their choice, and receive tickets while supplies last to a Bruno Mars concert.
Heineken is based in White Plains, N.Y.
Poland Spring
Poland Spring unveiled a new marketing campaign for its 100% Natural Spring Water. “Greatness Springs from Here” was created to celebrate the uniqueness of the Poland Spring region and its people. It focuses on the Northeast region where Poland Spring is sourced and highlights residents who pursue a passion and have a positive impact on their local community. Edna Mitchell, an 88-year-old volunteer ambulance driver from Maine, is the first to be featured. To see Mitchell in action and discover more greatness, visit http://polandspring.com/localgreatness.
Poland Spring is a subsidiary of Nestle Waters, Stamford, Conn.
- Have a community-service announcement of your own to share? Send related news to Kristina Peters at kpeters@winsightmedia.com.