Community Service Roundup, March 2023
By Rachel Gignac on Apr. 07, 2023Casey’s
Casey’s General Stores, Ankeny, Iowa, has partnered with Monster Energy to provide 10 million meals to children and families from funds raised at a roundup at the register campaign. With the support of 250,000 meals from Monster Energy, the donation will benefit 53 Feeding America network food banks in 16 states where Casey’s operates.
“Millions of people across our nation’s heartland are faced with the difficult reality of wondering where their next meal will come from," said Ena Williams, COO of Casey’s. "Those in need are our neighbors, and Casey’s is ready to join Feeding America for another year in the fight against hunger. Building on our partnership, and from the continued generosity of Casey’s guests, we can ensure that food is available and accessible.”
Along with rounding up at the register, customers helped raise funds by adding donations with online orders.
EG America
EG America, Westborough, Massachusetts, held a campaign with the goal of making a $150,000 donation to the American Red Cross.
Customers donated $1, $5 or an amount of their choosing during checkout at Cumberland Farms, Certified Oil, Fastrac, Kwik Shop, Loaf ‘N Jug, Minit Mart, Quik Stop, Sprint Food Stores, Tom Thumb and Turkey Hill stores.
All proceeds went toward supporting the needs of the Red Cross’s humanitarian mission to alleviate human suffering in the face of emergencies. This U.S. fundraiser is part of EG Group’s global participation in supporting the Red Cross.
Loop Neighborhood Market
Loop Neighborhood Market, Fremont, California, has formed a partnership with Think Together, a California nonprofit serving K-12 schools. The retailer and the organization commemorated the partnership with a $50,000 donation for after-school and expanded learning programs in traditionally under-resourced communities throughout California.
The donation will help Think Together continue its mission of providing students with access to educational resources and experiences outside of the traditional school day. With the support of partners like Loop Neighborhood Market, Think Together is able to have a lasting effect on the lives of nearly 200,000 students throughout the state annually.
Yesway
Yesway, Fort Worth, Texas, surpassed $1 million through its annual Golf & Clays Classic charitable fundraising tournaments.
Held annually at the Cowboys Golf Club and Elm Fork Shooting Sports in Dallas, beneficiaries of the 2022 event included Operation Homefront and the Christian Outdoor Alliance.
Additionally, Yesway supports the communities where its stores are located. The company donated more than $54,000 in 2022 to local charities, civic organizations, military and veterans groups and first responders, including local police, fire, EMS and sheriffs' departments.
“We are grateful to our partners and suppliers for their generous support and thank them all for joining us in supporting the communities our devoted customers, team members, neighbors and fans call home,” said Tom Trkla, chairman, president and CEO of Yesway.
Stewart’s Shops
Stewart’s Shops, Ballston Spa, New York, participated in the Capital Region Blood Battle hosted by the American Red Cross. The Blood Battle is a friendly competition to encourage blood donations and raise awareness. Eight local business competed this year: Stewart’s Shops, Albany Med Health System, Maximus, Price Chopper/Market 32, CDPHP, Lia Auto, MVP Health Care and Ellis Medicine.
The c-store chain also donated $15,000 to the Caffe Lena School of Music, a nonprofit that offers music classes. The funds from Stewart’s Shops/Dake Family will keep tuition affordable, as well as underwrite the free toddler program and a need-based scholarship program that supports approximately 25% of the students.
Rutter’s
Rutter’s, York, Pennsylvania, brought back its $50,000 Youth Sports Giveaway, where local youth sports leagues can apply online and 100 teams will be chosen to receive a $500 donation for use towards uniforms, equipment, travel expenses and other team needs.
Youth leagues and teams of high school age or younger can apply online through April 21, and Rutter's will contact the winners by May 12.
Sheetz
Sheetz, Altoona, Pennsylvania, has partnered with Ripken Baseball, a youth sports event company, to bring 12 free baseball clinics to children ages seven to 14 in Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, Ohio, North Carolina and Pennsylvania. Through June 1, the Sheetz Community Clinics presented by Ripken Baseball will teach the fundamentals of baseball for players of all levels during three-hour clinics.
Players can expect to work on fielding, hitting and throwing with Ripken Baseball instructors. Participants will receive a Sheetz treat, fruit and a giveaway.
“The families in our communities had a blast last year with Ripken Baseball,” said Nick Ruffner, public relations manager for Sheetz. “Our goal was to turn this community project into an annual initiative, and we’re thrilled to bring the clinics back to kids across six states this spring.”
Enmarket
Enmarket, Savannah, Georgia, held its fourth annual Charity Classic, raising $250,000 to be split evenly between the 200 Club of the Coastal Empire and Make-A-Wish Georgia.
The 200 Club serves the families of fallen first responders in our area, while Make-A-Wish Georgia grants wishes of critically ill children.
Petroleum Marketing Group
Petroleum Marketing Group, Washington, D.C., wholesaler of Shell USA, presented a $59,000 donation to local non-profit Children’s National Hospital as part of The Giving Pump initiative. During the campaign, 108 Petroleum Marketing Group gas stations donated combined proceeds from the designated Giving Pump at each location to the non-profit, which will be used to support the hospital’s Fund for Every Child, which covers the hospital's greatest needs and ensures children have access to world-class care.
Spartan Nash
SpartanNash, Grand Rapids, Michigan, a food distributor, wholesaler and retailer, hosted its annual fundraising campaign supporting Special Olympics athletes and State Summer Games in eight states. Customers donated about $205,000 by giving $1, $5 or $10 at checkout and with online purchases. With a donation from the SpartanNash Foundation, $235,000 was distributed to Special Olympics.
SpartanNash also donated 24 pallets of food products to victims of atmospheric rivers and flooding in southern California. In partnership with the American Red Cross, products were distributed to California residents forced into shelters because of flooding, power outages and landslides.
Mars
M&M’s, a Mars brand, revealed the winners of its Flipping the Status Quo program. The women were nominated by friends, family and colleagues for positively impacting the community. M&M’s is awarding each of the women with a $10,000 grant to further fund their missions.
The winners, and which industry or effort in which they flipped the status quo, included: Ahna Miller, disability inclusion; Angie Wallace, mental health stigmas; Cat Smith + Kiah Gibian, culinary world; Consuela Poland, occupational gender stereotypes; Courtney Pettway, financial education; Emily White, voter turnout; Gretchen Evans, overcoming disabilities; Janet Huger-Johnson, excellence in education; Kathy Meyer, period poverty; Kimberly Lozzi, dressing for success; Leah Meyerhoff, equality in filmmaking; Liz Maday, girls’ sports; Lynne Hughes, grief support; Magybet Mendez, immigration education; Marissa Soria, mental health care; Melanie Adams, fashion in male-dominated industries; Neha Shukla, innovation and technology; Tiffany Yu, disabled community; and Veronika Scott, social injustice.
Constellation Brands Inc.
Constellation Brands, an alcohol company based in Victor, New York, has made a two-year commitment of $400,000 in total contributions to The Nature Conservatory (TNC).
The contribution will help fund TNC conservation projects focused on improving the quantity and quality of inflows to the Rio Grande.
TCN will use a portion of the contribution to support expanding its Sustainable Agriculture Program to the Rio Grande Basin. With the remaining contribution, it will support an ongoing Groundwater Protection Program focused on protecting the regional aquifer systems that feed into the Lower Rio Grande.
Talking Rain Beverage Co.
Talking Rain Beverage Co., maker of Sparkling Ice and AQA, has partnered with Waterboys, founded by the Chris Long Foundation to bring drinking water to communities in need worldwide. As part of this collaboration, Talking Rain AQA is donating 20 cents for every 12-bottle case sold to address the clean water crisis and support several of the Chris Long Foundation’s programs, as well as their continued efforts with Waterboys.
Throughout 2023, Talking Rain AQA will support numerous charitable programs under the Chris Long Foundation portfolio including Waterboys’ international work.
“At Talking Rain Beverage Co., we are committed to making a positive impact in communities worldwide, and our expanded partnership with the Chris Long Foundation is a significant step towards achieving that goal,” said Nina Morrison, senior vice president of community experience at Talking Rain. “As a beverage company that cares deeply about sustainability, we are proud to partner with Waterboys and support their mission to bring clean water access to communities in need. Together, we can make a meaningful difference in the lives of tens of thousands of people around the world.”
Unique Snacks
Unique Snacks, Reading, Pennsylvania, has designed a specially branded package of its 11-ounce Original Splits pretzels featuring a red, white and blue design with stars and stripes and the Folds of Honor logo. In 2022, Unique Snacks sold 251,796 specially branded packages, raising $12,589.80 for Folds of Honor. Unique Snacks donates five cents from each purchase of specially branded packages to the organization.
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Community Service Roundup, February 2023