SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. -- Stewart's Holiday Match surpassed the $1 million mark on Dec. 20, the convenience store and dairy retailer said.
During a live radio broadcast at one of the chain's shops in Latham, N.Y., that morning, a local family, the Wolanins, came through and donated $4,500. With the Stewart's match, that made $9,000--pushing the collection to more than $1 million, with six days left to collect for local children's charities.
Whitney Wolanin is a national recording artist whose hit song "Run, Run Rudolph" has recently climbed to the top of the charts. She was born in New York and has family in the Capital District.
From Thanksgiving Day through Christmas Day, Stewart's matches individual donations made to the Holiday Match program in all 331 Stewart's Shops in New York and Vermont. All the money donated goes to charity; there are no administrative costs.
Stewart's Holiday Match is a 501c3 foundation; all donations are tax-deductible. Stewart's accepts funds from groups or businesses, but only matches individual donations. Local children's organizations can pick up an application throughout the holidays at any Stewart's Shop or apply on our website. The deadline for submission is Jan. 31, 2014. All groups applying must be locally based, benefit children under 18, and be a qualified, charitable 501c3 organization.
Since 1986, the Holiday Match program has donated more than $17 million to thousands of area children's organizations.
Founded in 1945, Stewart's Shops is an employee and family-owned convenience store chain based in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. Stewart's is known for offering milk, ice cream, coffee, food to go, gasoline and other convenience items. Today there are 330 Stewart's Shops located in more than 30 counties across upstate New York and southern Vermont.
Members help make our journalism possible. Become a CSP member today and unlock exclusive benefits, including unlimited access to all of our content. Sign up here.