Community Service Roundup: QT Honored, Plus Initiatives by 9 Other C-Stores

CHICAGO -- QuikTrip was recently named to People magazine’s Companies That Care list.

People partnered with Great Place to Work to produce the ranking, which highlights 50 U.S. companies with 1,000 or more employees that have succeeded in business while also demonstrating respect, compassion and concern for their employees, their communities and the environment. Tulsa, Okla.-based QuikTrip came in at No. 38, and it gave more than $14.9 million in philanthropic donations last year.

But QuikTrip isn’t the only convenience store making a difference. Click through to read about more charitable efforts from retailers ...

Aloha Petroleum has launched a two-month customer donation campaign with the Partnership for a Healthier America (PHA). Throughout April and May, customers at any Aloha Island Mart can add a $1 or more donation at checkout to support a healthier future for children. Honolulu-based Aloha Petroleum partnered with PHA in October 2016, and is committed to delivering more nutritious options to meet the needs of its communities.

In 2016, more than 550 Circle K stores in the Southeast United States teamed up with customers and store vendors to raise more than $1 million to help kids and adults who have muscular dystrophy, ALS and other diseases that limit strength and mobility. Last year was the eighth consecutive year that the Southeast Division of Circle K (owned by Laval, Quebec-based Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc.) participated in the Muscular Dystrophy Association's fundraising programs.

Savannah, Ga.-based enmarket and Healthy Savannah have announced the speakers for the 2017 Encourage Health Education Series, which will begin in April and end in October. Each presentation is free, open to the public and will take place at the Savannah Morning News Auditorium.

• April 25: Howard Morrison will present “The Golden Healers: A Study of Ginger and Turmeric’s Effect on Health.” Morrison is a founding partner of Savannah-based Verdant Kitchen, a gourmet and wellness company focused on the ginger and turmeric family of spices.
• June 27: Dr. Robert Rollings, a cardiologist certified in echocardiography and nuclear cardiology, will present “7 Ways Your Heart Health is Linked to a Healthy Lifestyle.”
• Aug. 22: Dr. Patricia Stewart, a psychologist and professional clinical counselor, and Margaret L. Clay, a certified life coach, will present “Aromatherapy: How are Essential Oils Making a Place in Healthcare?”
• Oct. 24: Davana Pilczuk, an expert in the field of human performance with Savannah-based Gulfstream Aerospace, will present “Stress and Sleep: The Forgotten Keys to Health.” 

Jiffy Mart, Westminster, Md., will hold a charity signing event featuring former football guard Edwin Mulitalo and retired wide receiver Jermaine Lewis on April 18 at the Greene Turtle in Westminster. The event is dedicated to the memory of J.J. Harvilicz (June 2, 2008-Dec. 17, 2016), whose passion was “that everyone should have food in their stomach and a blanket to sleep on.” Tickets are $15 if attendees bring a nonperishable food item and $20 without. Food and proceeds will benefit The Shepherd's Staff of Westminster.

For the fourth consecutive year, West Des Moines, Iowa-based Kum & Go will support Habitat’s Home is the Key national campaign with a corporate donation and in-store fundraising. Throughout April, customers of Kum & Go c-stores can add a $1 or more Habitat donation to in-store purchases, donate spare change to countertop donation box “houses,” or purchase Kum & Go water, in which 10 cents per bottle will be donated to Habitat for Humanity. Through their donations, Kum & Go customers will help select a community in which Kum & Go will sponsor the construction of a new Habitat home.

York, Pa.-based Rutter’s Farm Stores’ 15th annual Children’s Charities Golf Outing is scheduled for May 1-2 at the Out Door Country Club in York. Rutter’s has given more than $6 million to organizations dedicated to comforting, educating and inspiring the children of central Pennsylvania. 

Through May 3, Stripes Convenience Stores and APlus Stores (operated by Sunoco LP, Dallas) will be asking customers to “Put Their Money Where the Miracles Are” and purchase a $1 Miracle Balloon to raise funds for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals (CMNH). Stripes and APlus have partnered with CMNH since 2000, raising more than $11 million for sick and injured kids. In 2016, Sunoco’s team members raised more than $1.8 million during its spring campaign.

The Wawa Foundation awarded Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women & Babies a $100,000 grant for its neonatal intensive care unit. The grant funds will go toward a new incubator used to transport high-risk and critical neonatal patients to and from Winnie Palmer Hospital in Orlando, Fla. The Wawa Foundation is a nonprofit corporation founded by Wawa Inc. The Wawa, Pa.-based c-store chain committed to supporting Winnie Palmer Hospital prior to Wawa opening its first Florida store in July 2012, and has since donated nearly $300,000 to the hospital.

Des Moines, Iowa-based Yesway donated $1,600 to the Reading Buddies program of Ottumwa, Iowa. The money was raised during a monthlong grand-opening fundraiser, during which 5 cents from every cup of coffee purchased at Yesway stores was donated to the organization. Reading Buddies is a volunteer program that focuses on improving reading skills for second- and third-grade students.

Through the same campaign, Yesway also donated $1,600 to the North Iowa CERT Team of Mason City, Iowa, an organization that strives to assist first responders during a disaster or community crisis.

Have a community-service announcement of your own to share? Send related news to Kristina Peters at kpeters@winsightmedia.com.