WAWA, Pa. --Wawa Inc. has announced that beginning this year, it will call April 16 “Wawa Day,” honoring the most important date in the company’s history with a variety of customer-focused celebrations, including free coffee, and donations from the Wawa Foundation.
On April 16, 1964, Wawa entered the retail business, and last year, on April 16, 2014, Wawa celebrated its 50th anniversary in the retail space and marked this milestone with the launch of The Wawa Foundation, Wawa's 501c (3) non-profit organization founded to encompass all of Wawa's charitable giving. Wawa and The Wawa foundation is committed to donating $50 million to causes supporting health, hunger and every day heroes by 2018.
“Wawa Day gives us an opportunity to thank and connect with our customers while celebrating the day that forever chartered our company’s course, while creating new traditions that will mark the next 50 years of our company’s history,” said Chris Gheysens, president and CEO of the Wawa, Pa.-based convenience store retailer.
“The Wawa Foundation has become one of the most important vehicles to enable us to live our values and fulfill lives every day by building stronger communities, and we are excited to use the significance of our founding day to spotlight the work of the foundation, while thanking our customers and associates for the millions of moments that have made the Wawa experience so unique and special,” he said.
To mark the occasion on April 16, 2015, Wawa has planned a number of initiatives focused on its loyal customers and the communities in which Wawa operates:
- Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter will again proclaiming April 16 Wawa Day and helping to pour the ceremonial first cups of coffee.
- During Wawa Day, Wawa will give away more than 1.5 million free cups of any size coffee for all customers chain-wide.
- Wawa will announce more than $1 million in funding from the Wawa Foundation’s grant distribution from first-quarter 2015
- To celebrate the millions of “magical moments” that happen at Wawa each day, in-store digital tributes will feature photo montages to celebrate Wawa associates and customers and their relationships.
In addition, Wawa will be hosting six celebrations throughout its six-state operating area during Wawa Day, where the Wawa Foundation will highlight the incredible athletes of its first quarter, 2015 national charity partner, Special Olympics, as well as highlighting some of the local donations made to address the needs of that specific community.
“We’re giving away 1.5 million cups of coffee and $1 million in Wawa Foundation grants, but the numbers we are most proud of are the numbers of lives we have impacted and communities we have helped,” said Gheysens.
Wawa has more than 680 convenience stores, with approximately 420 offering gasoline, in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia and Florida. The stores offer a large fresh food service selection, including Wawa brands such as built-to-order hoagies, freshly brewed coffee, hot breakfast sandwiches, built-to-order specialty beverages and an assortment of soups, sides and snacks.
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