OAK BROOK, Ill. -- With the season of giving calling to mind thoughts of those less fortunate, convenience store retailers refocused their energies on giving back. Here’s just a few of the ongoing efforts providing support to everyone from military families to schools, local parks to area hospitals.
Aloha Petroleum
Aloha Petroleum Ltd., Honolulu, recently helped plant a seed toward another successful century for the Outdoor Circle by presenting the organization with a $2,500 donation.
“The Outdoor Circle is an extraordinary organization that’s dedicated to preserving Hawaii’s plants and trees, as well as the overall aesthetic appeal of our islands,” said Larry Adams, Aloha Petroleum’s director of sales and marketing. “We certainly appreciate the organization’s ongoing efforts to preserve and protect Hawaii, and we’re proud to support The Outdoor Circle as it embarks on another century of keeping our home beautiful.”
In other giving news from Aloha, the company presented the American Red Cross, Hawaii Chapter with a check for $4,341 to support the organization’s mission to prevent and alleviate human suffering in the face of emergencies by mobilizing the power of volunteers and the generosity of donors.
“We’d like to extend a warm ‘mahalo’ [or thank you] to our many generous customers who helped make this donation possible,” said Richard Parry, Aloha Petroleum president and CEO. “The American Red Cross plays a vital role in helping communities recover and rebuild. We’re proud to support the important work they do.”
Aloha Petroleum markets through more than 100 Shell, Aloha, and Mahalo branded fueling stations in Hawaii.
Atlas Oil Co.
Taylor, Mich.-based Atlas Oil Co.’s charitable arm, Atlas Cares, hosted its sixth annual Military Base Holiday Party at Selfridge Air National Guard Base, Mt. Clemens, Mich., in December. The event honored the men and women in the military.
For the second consecutive year, the party was opened to the entire base, representing all branches of the military. Nearly 3,000 service men and women and their families attended, with the party featuring the Ty Stone Band, a fully catered meal, games and gifts for the kids and a raffle of great prizes.
Atlas is a national fuel supply and distribution company serving nearly 400 gasoline convenience stores throughout Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Ohio.
Casey’s General Stores
Casey’s General Stores Inc., Ankeny, Iowa, raised more than $1 million in support of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tenn., far surpassing the original goal of $700,000. Customers showed their support by donating $1 for a pumpkin pin-up at any Casey’s store. In addition to generous customer support, MillerCoors, Chicago, donated 20 cents per case of Coors Light and Miller Lite sold in October at Casey’s locations, which totaled $24,688.
“We are thrilled with the results of our St. Jude Halloween Promotion and want to thank and recognize our customers for their contributions,” said Robert J. Myers, president and CEO of Casey’s. “With the generous support of our customers and partner MillerCoors, we help ensure that no child is ever turned away from treatment at St. Jude.”
Casey’s has partnered with St. Jude for the last 12 years reaching more than $4.3 million in donations during that time.
St. Jude is internationally recognized for its pioneering work in finding cures and saving children with cancer and other catastrophic diseases. Casey’s is an independently owned c-store chain in the Midwest, owning and operating more than 1,700 stores in 12 states.
E-Z Mart
E-Z Mart Stores, Texarkana, Texas, teamed up with Arkansas Children’s Hospital for Festival of Stars, with the c-store chain matching each monetary gift dollar-for-dollar up to $10,000. The event was held in mid-December. Funds raised go to support the Little Rock, Ark.-based hospital’s social work family fund and child life program.
ExxonMobil
Employees of Irving, Texas-based ExxonMobil raised $1.6 million for North Texas charities, reaching nearly 200 local nonprofit organizations during its Employees’ Favorite Charities Campaign. The effort reached nearly 200 charities that provide a wide range of social and educational services to North Texas residents.
“ExxonMobil has a long history of supporting community groups and educational organizations in North Texas through financial contributions and thousands of hours volunteered by employees and retirees,” said Rex Tillerson, chairman and CEO, Exxon Mobil Corp. “Our employees and retirees continue a strong tradition of giving in the communities where we live and work.”
Since 2007, ExxonMobil and its employees and retirees have provided more than $33 million and 56,000 volunteer hours in support of North Texas charitable organizations and universities.
ExxonMobil is the largest publicly traded international oil-and-gas company and operates in most of the world’s countries, using technology and innovation to help meet growing energy needs.
Geo. H. Green Oil Co.
In December, Geo. H. Green Oil Co., Fairburn, Ga. raised more than $26,000 in just 27 days--an increase of 4% over last year’s campaign--for three local Charities: Greater Atlanta’s Empty Stocking Fund, which furnishes toys, educational material and an article of clothing to more than 50,000 underprivileged children each year; Fairburn’s In His Great Name Ministry, which feeds the spiritual needs and has raised consciousness all along the south side; and Newnan’s Welcome House a Shelter for Women in need.
“We are so appreciative of the enormously successful efforts of our two awesome truck stops, great office staff, along with the splendid cooperation of our dealers and vendors, and the continued generosity of our wonderful customers,” Green Oil executives said.
Kum & Go
Kyle and Sharon Krause along with Kum & Go, West Des Moines, Iowa, presented the Des Moines Social Club (DMSC) with a $350,000 gift to renovate the former Des Moines Firehouse to promote local artists and provide a recruiting tool for downtown Des Moines. This contribution signifies the importance of a vibrant arts community to the quality of life of residents in the Greater Des Moines area, officials said.
The Firehouse will include an art gallery, classroom and a performance center that will be named the Kum & Go Theater. Additionally, Kum & Go sponsored DMSC’s “The Bash,” a New Year’s Eve event and benefit with proceeds supporting programming of the club.
“The spirit of philanthropy is deeply embedded in the culture of Kum & Go. Supporting our local communities through giving has always been a cornerstone of our business both financially and donating our time, talent and resources,” said Kyle J. Krause, president and CEO of Kum & Go. “Arts and cultural organizations offer a unique ability to enrich, inspire and educate audiences with diverse backgrounds.”
Kum & Go is a family-owned company with more than 400 convenience stores in 11 states.
Mirabito Convenience Stores
Binghamton, N.Y.-based Mirabito Convenience Stores will donate $30,000 to local hospice chapters as a result of the recently completed “Hugs for Hospice” campaign. In conjunction with National Hospice Awareness Month, which ran in November and December, the Mirabito c-store division sold “Hospice Hugs” for $1 at all store locations. The funds raised will directly support the programs and services of area Hospices and the terminally ill patients and families they serve.
“The care our local hospice organizations provide is remarkable,” said Mirabito CEO Joseph Mirabito. “We’re very grateful for their ongoing work and glad that we can support their efforts through this annual campaign. Thank you to all of our customers who donated to this great cause.”
The Mirabito c-store division is part of the Mirabito family of companies.
OnCue Express
OnCue Express employees presented a check for $130,500 to Memphis, Tenn.-based St. Jude Hospital. The money was raised by employees with support from its customers and vendors through pumpkin pin-up sales, garage sales, bake sales and other events. “We are thrilled to be a partner with St. Jude,” said an employee with OnCue, Stillwater, Okla.
Parker Cos.
Greg Parker, president and CEO of Parker Cos., Savannah, Ga., recently spoke to seventh- and eighth-grade gifted students at Godley Station School in Pooler, Ga., leading a lively one-hour question-and-answer discussion about entrepreneurship and the challenges of operating a successful business.
“I was truly blown away by the caliber of questions these students asked during our class session,” said Parker. “I’m confident these young men and women will grow into outstanding citizens and future entrepreneurs in our community.”
Parker offered personal insight and answered student questions regarding marketing solutions, investment and start-up money, profit-margin strategies and the stock market.
“To have Greg Parker take the time to visit with our students was an amazing opportunity,” said Allison Schuster-Jones, principal of Godley Station School. “The students were so excited and inspired. Greg shared with them so many tips for success, not only in business but in life in general. He really motivated them and helped the students think long-term. This is best advisement session we’ve ever had as far as preparing students for the future.”
Parker Cos. operates 30 convenience stores across the region.
Roadrunner Markets
Roadrunner Markets Gift Instrumental, Johnson City, Tenn., has joined with Houston-based BP to donate $15,000 to Keystone Dental Care Inc. (KDC) of Johnson City. KDC is a charity whose mission is to provide dental care to adults in need in eight Northeast Tennessee counties.
“This is just a wonderful and much-needed gift,” said Lisa Eggers, Keystone’s executive director. “We solely depend on grants and donations from the community to remain open. In 2012, we treated more than 2,000 patients who otherwise could not afford dental care, and this gift will allow us to continue helping those in need.”
The Roadrunner and BP donation will help cover clinic expenses.
“BP has a program called ‘BP Fueling Communities,’ and we partner with them to provide the donation,” said Ryan Broyles, president of Roadrunner Markets. “Each year we try to choose a charity that is making a difference in this community, and we know KDC is.”
Roadrunner Markets also made a donation recently to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, Tenn.
Roadrunner Markets is a family-owned business that operates 92 convenience stores in four states.
Rutter’s Cos.
December marked the end of the most successful year of charitable giving in the 91 year history of the York, Pa.-based Rutter’s Cos., with more than $640,000 donated primarily to children’s charities throughout Central Pennsylvania.
An abbreviated list of the charities:
- Crispus Attucks Association of York received $50,000 to provide education services, human services, community development and affordable housing to York-area residents in need.
- Montessori Academy of Chambersburg received $25,000 to provide scholarships and financial aid to eligible children.
- The Bosler Memorial Library in Carlisle will use $12,500 donated by Rutter’s to continue community programs.
- The Hanover YWCA received $25,000 to continue its early-childhood education programming and provide scholarships and financial aid to eligible children.
- York Country Day School will use the $77,000 received to award academic scholarships to eligible inner-city students through the Rutter’s Scholars program.
- The Easter Seals of Central PA used a $37,000 donation to purchase a new van to be used for transporting children.
Rutter’s has been active in the community since its beginning in 1921. Rutter’s operates 57 convenience stores throughout Central Pennsylvania.
Stewarts Shops
New York State Police Troop G in Latham, N.Y., said that the woman who had handed Trooper Christopher Maniscalco a holiday card that contained $1,000 on Dec. 2 has come forward to Troopers and was positively confirmed by Trooper Maniscalco as the woman who gave him the card.
The generous gift was returned to her and she has since donated the full sum to the Stewarts Holiday Match program via the Stewarts Shop in Guilderland, N.Y. By law, the State Police cannot accept gifts of this nature.
The donor wishes to remain anonymous, and state police officials are respecting her wishes. Stewart Shops is headquartered in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.
Valero Retail Holdings
Valero Retail Holdings Inc., San Antonio, Texas, announced that its Corner Store c-store locations raised a record $2.35 million for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, Salt Lake City. These results show a 21.7% increase over 2011.
With the help of customers and employees, Corner Store dedicated the month of October as CMN month, asking customers to purchase paper balloons in support of children’s hospitals.
“Through their determination, our hard-working Corner Store employees made the difference for children’s hospitals with one balloon at a time,” said Gary Arthur, Valero retail president. “I also want to thank our loyal customers who helped us give over $16 million since 1995. Without them, miracles would not have happened.”
The money Corner Store raises supports 32 hospitals in the communities where the company owned stores are located. Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals serve children suffering from a range of illnesses, ranging from common childhood afflictions like asthma and broken bones to bigger challenges like birth defects or cancer.
Based in San Antonio, Texas, Valero Retail Holdings Inc. operates more than 1,000 locations in nine central and southwestern states.
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