TUCSON, Ariz. -- The National Coalition of Associations of 7-Eleven Franchisees said that it has helped to raise $730,000 this year for two of its charitable partners, Hire Heroes USA and the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA).
Hire Heroes is a nonprofit organization offering transition assistance, job search assistance and job placement services to those veterans injured or disabled in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, and the MDA is a nonprofit health agency dedicated to curing muscular dystrophy, ALS and related diseases.
During its [image-nocss] convention last month in Las Vegas, the coalition presented Hire Heroes USA leadership with a check for $310,000 to support the organization's transition assistance workshops run at military installations. In concert with 7-Eleven Inc. and nine vendor partners, the coalition and its 36 franchise owners' associations raised funds through sales of specific products offered by brand-name companies that donated a portion of each sale for the program.
Participating companies included Nestle USA, Anheuser-Busch InBev, MillerCoors, E. & J. Gallo Winery, Dr Pepper-Snapple Group, Tropicana Products Inc., Mars Inc., Kellogg's and Kraft Foods Inc. Fees from the coalition's annual Joe Saraceno Memorial Golf Tournament, as well as donations made from the public, also contributed to the total. This donation was the second in a three-year commitment to Hire Heroes USA and the largest single-year contribution made to Hire Heroes USA by the coalition.
The coalition also presented MDA with a check for $420,000, representing funds raised through a national store-based canister program supported by 7-Eleven Inc., as well as live and silent auctions at the coalition's annual convention. The contribution is a manifestation of a long-term partnership between the MDA, the coalition, its franchise owners' associations, individual franchisees and 7-Eleven Inc.
"Our ability to give back to these important programs is something that makes each and every member of our 7-Eleven franchisee family very proud," said Bruce Maples, chairman of the National Coalition of Associations of 7-Eleven Franchisees. "Committing ourselves to supporting both our military veterans and those individuals and families who have been touched by neuromuscular disease represents the great American tradition of generosity that our owners, their employees, our vendors and our customers are known for."
The coalition's 36th annual national convention in Las Vegas brought in record numbers of franchise owners and exhibitors, it said. In addition to the trade show for exhibitors, the convention featured a range of speakers including Super Bowl XII Champion Drew Pearson of the Dallas Cowboys. Actor Max Adler, star of TV's Glee, was also on hand to sign autographs and support the work of the MDA and 12-year-old Abbey Umali, MDA's 2011 National Goodwill Ambassador.
Preparations are now underway for the 37th annual convention which will be held next July in Honolulu.
The National Coalition of Associations of 7-Eleven Franchisees is the national trade group for 7-Eleven storeowners in the United States, representing the interests of 4,900 franchise-owned stores, and their membership organizations, which employ nearly 40,000 workers.
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