OAK BROOK, Ill. -- Although the convenience/gasoline retailing industry has come a long way from the days of the "service station," in one way, the industry's retailers still function as "service" stations. They keep a steady stream of philanthropic endeavors and support flowing into the communities they serve.
Some recent examples include:
Casey's General Stores Inc.
Casey's General Stores Inc., Ankeny, Iowa, said that its customers raised more than $750,000 to support the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA).
Throughout the month of August and concluding on Labor Day, Casey's asked customers to donate $1 or $5 to help send a child to MDA Summer Camp. Last year, the program raised more than $570,000, and this year's goal was $600,000. This is the sixth consecutive year Casey's has supported the campaign, "Make a Muscle, Make a Difference & Send a Kid to MDA Summer Camp."
The average cost of sending a child to MDA Summer Camp is $800. So with the 2012 fundraising efforts, Casey's customers are sending 937 children to summer camp next year.
Casey's has more than 1,700 c-stores in 11 states.
Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
Chevron U.S.A. Inc., San Ramon, Calif., has expanded its "Fuel Your School" program to nine communities this fall from two communities in 2011. Fuel Your School provides funding for eligible classroom projects developed by public-school teachers and posted to DonorsChoose.org in the following communities: Alameda and Contra Costa counties, Calif.
Orange County, Calif.; Kern County, Calif.; Sacramento County, Calif.; St. Tammany, Orleans and Plaquemines parishes, La.; Jackson County, Miss.; Multnomah County, Ore.; Harris County, Texas; and Salt Lake and Davis counties, Utah
Chevron will donate $1 for every eight-gallon-or-larger fill-up from October 1 to October 31 at participating Chevron and Texaco stations in those communities, up to a total contribution of nearly $5 million.
CITGO Petroleum Corp.
CITGO Petroleum Corp., Houston, has launched its "Fueling Good" program. Now in its fourth year, the Fueling Good program recognizes and rewards local individuals making a difference in their communities while also helping nonprofit organizations extend their service to more people. Starting this month, nonprofit organizations can enter to win a share of $60,000 in CITGO gift cards by submitting their stories at www.FuelingGood.com. When the contest concludes in mid-October, up to 12 nonprofit organizations will receive $5,000 in CITGO gift cards to support their causes.
To participate, nonprofit organizations must be based in the 27 states and the District of Columbia in which CITGO stations operate, and be focused on one of the following four areas: environmental protection and restoration, education and social investment, energy assistance and conservation and health and well-being.
Exxon Mobil Corp.
Exxon Mobil Corp., Irving, Texas, will donate $500,000 to the American Red Cross and United Way for Hurricane Isaac disaster relief assistance in Louisiana and Mobile, Ala.
ExxonMobil's donation is being directed to the Louisiana Capital Area Chapter Red Cross and the Capital Area United Way in Baton Rouge, the United Way of the Greater New Orleans Area, the Southeast Louisiana Chapter Red Cross and the Alabama Gulf Coast (Mobile) Chapter Red Cross.
Marathon Petroleum Corp.
Marathon Petroleum Corp. (MPC), Findlay, Ohio, said it will donate $500,000 to the American Red Cross in Louisiana and $500,000 to designated local charities in the area near its operations that are providing support for families impacted by Hurricane Isaac.
MPC is the nation's fifth-largest refiner. Marathon-branded gasoline is sold through more than 5,000 independently owned retail outlets across 18 states.
The Pantry Inc.
The Pantry Inc., Cary, N.C., said that its summer-long Kangaroo Express "Salute Our Troops" fundraising campaign has raised $3.17 million, surpassing total funds raised during the inaugural 2011 campaign. In celebration of the campaign's success, military personnel, veterans, cause-partner volunteers, sponsors, employees and their families will gather on October 3 at PNC Arena in Raleigh, N.C., for the Salute Our Troops check presentation.
From Independence Day through Labor Day, Kangaroo Express invited customers to make donations as a showing of gratitude to the military. Through The Pantry's more than 1,500 Kangaroo Express stores across 13 states, customers and communities demonstrated united support for military personnel and their families.
Royal Farms
More than 50 of Royal Farms' suppliers participated in an event to help raise money for Living Classrooms Foundation, which motivates young people to achieve their potential through hands-on education and job training. Baltimore-based Royal Farms supports the foundation's approach of using urban, natural and maritime resources as "living classrooms."
[Pictured: Ed Stronski (far left) marketing manager, and John Kemp, president of Royal Farms present James Piper Bond (far right), president and CEO of Living Classrooms, Baltimore, Md., and Howard Wicker (center), assistant director of the foundation's Project SERVE Program with check for $100,000 from the Royal Farm 3rd Annual Charity Golf Tournament held September 10 at the Green Spring Valley Hunt Club Golf Course.]
National Association of Shell Marketers
The National Association of Shell Marketers (NASM) has announced that Canine Companions for Independence (CCI) will be on site during a c-store visit that will occur at its NASM 2012 Retreat in Scottsdale, Ariz. CCI provides trained, assistance dogs to people with disabilities. About three years ago, CCI began a Wounded Veteran's Initiative to provide assistance dogs to veterans returning from the war in Iraq and Afghanistan.
NASM, Garrisonville, Va., will be supporting the Valley of the Sun Volunteer Chapter of CCI, a national organization based in Santa Rosa, Calif. NASM will fuel CCI vehicles and provide Shell gift cards for the organization.
Thorntons Inc.
Louisville-based Thorntons Inc., as part of its ongoing "Thorntons Challenge" commitment toward breast-cancer awareness, has donated $100,000 to the Norton Cancer Institute in an initiative that will continue in 2013 and beyond. The donation will provide mobile-unit mammogram screenings for women throughout the Louisville, Ky., area.
The mammogram screenings are for women between the ages of 40-75 who have not been screened in the past year. The the Norton Healthcare Foundation will conduct screenings aboard the Norton Cancer Institute Mobile Prevention Center September 24 through September 28.
Thorntons operates 166 gasoline c-stores, car washes and travel plazas in five states.
Wawa Inc.
Wawa Inc. said that in the summer of 2012, its in-store USO donations totaled more than $276,000.
The USO, a nonprofit, congressionally chartered, private organization, lifts the spirits of America's troops and their families through the generosity of individuals, organizations and corporations that support its activities.
Wawa, with headquarters in Wawa, Pa, has more than 600 c-stores in six states.
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