OAK BROOK, Ill. -- The passing the holidays didn’t stop the flow of charitable work coming from convenience store retailers across the country. Companies ranging from the major oils to regional c-store chains all made efforts to give back to their communities. What follows is a list of the most recently announced fund-raising drives.
BP Products North America Inc.
Along with New York and New Jersey BP station owners, BP Products North America Inc. has launched a fund-raising campaign to support four local Paralympic Sport Clubs by selling window clings for $1 at participating BP stations through Feb. 28, 2013. BP is the exclusive energy partner of the organization’s Team USA through 2016. The proceeds will help fund new equipment, participant outreach, training for coaches and competitive athlete scholarships, to further the Paralympic Sport Clubs’ mission of providing competitive and recreational sports opportunities for individuals with physical and visual disabilities.
BP-branded marketers donated more than $300,000 in 2012 to 20 Paralympic Sport Clubs in 19 areas around the country. More than 80% of those donations have come from New York and New Jersey BP-branded marketers who presented $240,000 of the donated funds to four local Paralympic Sport Clubs in the New York and New Jersey area.
Chevron USA Inc.
Chevron U.S.A. Inc. and DonorsChoose.org announced that its “Fuel Your School” program raised $4.49 million benefitting local classroom projects at 1,733 K-12 public schools across the country and impacting a total of 697,904 students in 2012. Through Chevron’s Fuel Your School program, 5,673 teachers in nine markets received critical classroom resources.
“There are many obstacles that my students have to overcome,” said Ashley Pelafigue, a kindergarten teacher at Pierre A. Capdau Charter School in New Orleans. “I am so grateful for the materials received through the Fuel Your School program. These new resources give them a chance to learn and succeed in subjects that are vital to their academic success.”
Through the program, San Ramon, Calif.-based Chevron contributed $1 for purchases of eight or more gallons, up to a total contribution of nearly $5 million, between Oct. 1 and Oct. 31 at participating Chevron and Texaco stations in nine U.S. markets in six states.
Lykins Cos.
Lykins Oil Cos., Milford, Ohio, has worked with BP’s “Fueling Communities Program” to donate $12,500 to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Cincinnati.
Fueling Communities provides grants to local organizations that are nominated by BP-branded marketers to support the communities in which they do business. The program allows local marketers to support organizations that focus on health, education, youth, food and housing to spread charity and goodwill among neighborhoods in need.
Lykins Cos. is a family-owned and -operated business that was founded in 1948 by Guy Lykins Sr. and is now in the third generation of management. The company serves customers in Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana, as well as throughout the Midwest and the Southeast United States.
NATSO
Safety initiatives ranging from Amber Alerts to scholarships are targets for the NATSO Foundation and its Feb. 3 golf tournament in Savannah, Ga. NATSO announced that truckstop and travel-plaza operators and industry suppliers will raise funds to support safety initiatives, such as Amber Alerts distributed in conjunction with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, and scholarships for travel-plaza employees and their families. The foundation also focuses on industry research and has released a number of studies on the economic contributions of interstate businesses, as well as sales and offerings at travel plazas. In addition, the foundation provides resources to help the travel-plaza industry better serve customers, such as information on providing healthy food options and complying with new Americans with Disabilities Act regulations.
The golf tournament will take place at The Club at Savannah Harbor, which is also the home to the PGA TOUR’s Champions Tour Liberty Mutual Insurance Legends of Golf Championship.
NATSO, Alexandria, Va., is the trade association of America's travel plaza and truckstop industry.
Stewart’s Shops
Conducting its 26th annual Holiday Match program, Stewart’s Shops, Saratoga Springs, N.Y., topped the $1-million mark in contributions for local children’s charities. Stewart’s customers donated $672,000 with Stewart’s Shops matching that amount. A grand total of $1,344,000 will be distributed in March 2013.
“These are difficult times for many families, and despite the economic challenges, we are always impressed with the generosity of our customers,” said Susan Dake, president of Stewart’s Foundation.
The Holiday Match program is based on customers making contributions in the 324 Stewart’s Shops, located in upstate New York and western Vermont, from Thanksgiving Day through Christmas Day. The money raised benefits children’s organizations directly within the communities where Stewart’s Shops are located. There are no administrative costs and 100% of the funds collected and matched benefit the communities that have made the program successful. Over $17 million will have been allocated since the program's inception in 1986.
Wawa Inc.
Wawa Inc. of Wawa, Pa., the local NBC-television affiliate NBC 10 and the environmental law firm Manko, Gold, Katcher & Fox are now searching for deserving recipients for its eighth annual Environmental Community Service Award. The goal is to raise awareness of environmental concerns and to recognize schools (sixth grade or higher) in the Delaware Valley for their efforts in environmental service projects.
Each year two schools receive a $5,000 honorarium to further their environmental programs. Applications must be submitted by Monday, March 4. Surprise presentations will be made at the winning schools prior to April 22, which is Earth Day 2013.
Wawa Inc. operates more than 600 stores in Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Florida.
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