Community Service Roundup March 2019: Initiatives by 9 Retailers
By Kristina Hurtig on Mar. 27, 2019CHICAGO —This community-service roundup features the charitable efforts of nine convenience-store retailers.
Many chains announced results of campaigns supporting the Muscular Dystrophy Association. Others donated to schools, Make-A-Wish, the USO and more.
Click through to read about these initiatives ...
Alta Convenience
Alta Convenience, a Denver-based convenience-store chain with 110 stores, raised $100,000 for Make-A-Wish during an in-store donation campaign last year. Since 2013, Alta has raised more than $300,000 for Make-A-Wish.
“I cannot think of a better charity to partner with, and the results show in the generous donations made by our customers year after year,” said Rich Spresser, president of Pester Marketing, the parent company of Alta Convenience.
CITGO
Houston-based CITGO raised more than $14 million to help kids and adults living with muscular dystrophy, ALS and related neuromuscular diseases. As Muscular Dystrophy Association’s largest corporate sponsor, CITGO and its employees have raised more than $240 million since the two began working together in January 1986.
Clearwater Travel Plaza
Clearwater Travel Plaza, a travel center based in Clearwater, Minn., has raised more than $200,000 for the Coborn Cancer Center in St. Cloud, Minn. The travel center held numerous fundraising events, including a golf tournament, walk and an outdoor Zumba class, for the cancer center.
“The Coborn Cancer Center is just down the road from us, and it serves our local community; some of our employees and their families have received care there, so that makes it the obvious choice,” Wendy Johnson, chief operating officer of Clearwater Travel Plaza, told a local radio news station. We want to make sure the funds raised go to where we want them, so that we, and our community, can get the healthcare they need.”
Delek U.S. Holdings
In late February, Brentwood, Tenn.-based Delek U.S. Holdings gave 17-year-old Make-A-Wish recipient Audrey the VIP treatment at its newest DK c-store in Midland, Texas.
After arriving by limo, Audrey and her family were greeted by DK employees, the Make-A-Wish team and many community members. Audrey was named “Delek Wish Ambassador,” and she had a DK frozen drink named after her: Audrey’s Aloha, a blue raspberry flavor. She also was given a mini shopping spree in the new store, allowing Audrey to stock up on her favorite snacks and drinks.
Audrey is undergoing treatment for leukemia. In January, Make- A-Wish granted her wish of traveling to the Disney resort in Hawaii and sightseeing on the islands.
GPM Investments
Last year, during its eighth holiday pinup campaign, GPM Investments raised $244,263 for kids and adults living with muscular dystrophy, ALS and related neuromuscular diseases. About 1,400 GPM-operated stores participated in the December fundraiser, in which customers purchased a Muscular Dystrophy Association pinup at checkout for $1.
Richmond, Va.-based GPM has raised more than $1.38 million since partnering with the Muscular Dystrophy Association in 2011.
Pilot Flying J
During American Heart Month in February, Pilot Flying J raised more than $1 million in support of the American Heart Association’s “Life Is Why We Give” campaign. The Knoxville, Tenn.-based travel-center chain surpassed the $981,000 it raised in 2018.
Speedway
Speedway has donated $39,000 to the Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis. The donation was part of a collaboration with the Indianapolis Colts—Speedway is the official convenience store of the Colts—in which the Enon, Ohio-based chain said it would donate $1,000 to the hospital for every Colts touchdown pass during the 2018 football season. Quarterback Andrew Luck threw 39 touchdown passes.
Speedway also recently announced it raised $9.5 million for kids treated at 61 Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals in 2018. Speedway’s partnership with Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals began in 1991. The c-store chain has since raised more than $109 million for the charity through a variety of fundraising activities.
VERC Enterprises
Through its ExxonMobil Educational Alliance Program, Duxbury, Mass.-based VERC Enterprises has given a $500 grant to Fitchburg High School in Fitchburg, Mass., and another $500 grant to Trinity Catholic Academy in Brockton, Mass. The ExxonMobil Educational Alliance program is designed to provide local retailers an opportunity to invest in the future of their communities through educational grants to neighborhood schools.
Wawa
The Wawa Foundation, a nonprofit founded by Wawa, Pa.-based Wawa, is giving a $25,000 grant to the USO. The funds will go directly to USO locations based throughout Wawa’s operating area and will support the food programming for members of the U.S. Coast Guard and their families.
“At Wawa, supporting our military is part of our DNA, and that’s why The Wawa Foundation is so honored to nationally partner with the USO as a way to thank our troops and give something back to the dedicated men and women who protect our freedom,” said Jay Culotta, president of The Wawa Foundation.
Have a community-service announcement of your own to share? Send related news to Kristina Peters at kpeters@winsightmedia.com.