Community Service Roundup: Initiatives by 10 Retailers (August 2017)
By Kristina Hurtig on Aug. 14, 2017CHICAGO -- This community-service roundup features 10 convenience-store retailers and one supplier giving back to their communities by becoming a Make-A-Wish sponsor, raising funds for children’s programs, supporting good health, donating to a university and more.
Click through to read about these efforts ...
Aloha Petroleum
Through a two-month campaign, Honolulu-based Aloha Petroleum raised $5,000 to support Partnership for a Healthier America (PHA), a nonprofit that works with the private sector to make healthier food options more accessible to families. Customers at any Aloha Island Mart location in April and May could add a $1 or more donation at checkout to support PHA. Aloha partnered with PHA in October 2016.
Aloha Petroleum also recently teamed up with Lahaina Petroleum as Make-A-Wish sponsors to 8-year-old Harper (pictured above), who was diagnosed in 2015 with a rare cancer affecting his body’s connective tissues. On June 22, Harper and his family visited Nawiliwili Harbor to tour the Honolulu-based Norwegian cruise liner Pride of America. Lahaina Petroleum has serviced customers’ fuel and convenience-store needs at Chevron stations on Kauai since 2002.
Boyett Petroleum
Boyett Petroleum’s Make Dreams Real Endowment Fund raised $275,000 to help fund local children’s programs during its annual golf tournament May 18. Cruisers, Modesto, Calif.-based Boyett’s convenience-store brand, brought in more than $6,000 for the fund during its annual Send a Kid to Camp campaign.
Casey’s General Stores
Throughout August, Casey’s General Stores is teaming up with the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) to raise money for the organization’s weeklong summer camp. The Ankeny, Iowa-based retailer will sell $1 or $5 MDA pinups at any store location. Casey’s hopes to raise $1.75 million; it raised $1.5 million in 2016.
CEFCO
Temple, Texas-based CEFCO Convenience Stores and parent company Fikes Wholesale Inc. donated $510,000 to Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals (CMNH) and $225,000 to the Fikes Foundation during CEFCO’s 16th annual Hackers-R-Us Charity Golf Tournament.
To date, CEFCO has donated more than $5.5 million to CMNH and various Fikes Foundation charitable causes.
Cumberland Farms
Westborough, Mass.-based Cumberland Farms’ sixth annual Cups for Kids fundraising campaign began Aug. 1. During the monthlong fundraiser, 5 cents from every iced coffee or Chill Zone beverage purchased at participating retail locations will go toward pediatric-care programs at five hospitals in the Northeast.
enmarket
As part of its 2017 Encourage Healthy Education Series, Savannah, Ga.-based enmarket presented a $1,000 grant to the Savannah Striders, a group that promotes running and good health.
The Encourage Health Education Series consists of four presentations from respected experts who share insights on nutrition and fitness. A local nonprofit organization is presented with a $1,000 Encourage Health grant during each presentation. The third presentation will happen Aug. 22, and a $1,000 grant will be presented to the Savannah Urban Garden Alliance. The Living Vine Christian Maternity Home received a $1,000 grant during the first presentation.
Mega Co-Op
Eau Claire, Wis.-based Mega Co-Op’s Holiday and Travel Stop stores raised more than $17,500 to Special Olympics Wisconsin through its Filling the Dream for Special Olympics’ Athletes campaign. On May 13, the stores donated 5 cents from every gallon of fuel pumped by Special Olympics volunteers. Volunteers also grilled brats and burgers during the lunch hour, with all money going toward Special Olympics Wisconsin.
Mega Co-Op has raised more than $160,000 for Special Olympics Wisconsin and its local athletes since 2007.
Spinx
Greenville, S.C.-based Spinx raised more than $185,000 during its 17th annual Charity Classic Golf Tournament on May 10. The funds will be distributed to five local charities: the American Red Cross of the Upstate, American Red Cross of the Lowcountry, Safe Harbor, Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Carolinas and Harvest Hope Food Bank.
Sunoco
Stripes and APlus, which are owned and operated by Dallas-based Sunoco LP, raised more than $1.6 million for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals (CMNH) through an in-store Miracle Balloon fundraising campaign.
Since partnering with CMNH in 2000, Stripes and APlus have raised more than $12 million for sick and injured kids.
TravelCenters of America
Through Aug. 31, Westlake, Ohio-based TravelCenters of America (operator of the TA and Petro Stopping Centers travel center brands) is holding its annual campaign in support of the St. Christopher Truckers Development and Relief Fund (SCF), a nonprofit that helps truck drivers suffering financial hardship due to medical problems. As in past years, commemorative wristbands and SCF keychains will be made available for $1 and $5, respectively. Contributions may be made at participating TA and Petro restaurants, travel stores, fuel buildings and truck-service facilities. All proceeds will go directly to SCF.
Wilbur Curtis Co.
Montebello, Calif.-based Wilbur Curtis Co., manufacturer of coffee and tea brewing equipment, has pledged $250,000 to the University of California-Davis to support the university’s expanding Coffee Center, which will be the first multidisciplinary university research center in the world devoted to post-harvest research of coffee.
The donation is the first by Wilbur Curtis to a major academic institution.
Have a community-service announcement of your own to share? Send related news to Kristina Peters at kpeters@winsightmedia.com.