Community Service Roundup: 7 Ways C-Stores Are Giving Back (June 2016)
By Kristina Hurtig on Jun. 13, 2016OAKBROOK TERRACE, Ill. -- In this roundup of charitable efforts by convenience stores, you will find donations to nonprofit organizations such as the Children's Miracle Network Hospitals and Make-A-Wish, support for a local movie project, a partnership with a local soccer club and more. Here are some recent examples. Have a community-service announcement of your own to share? Send related news to Kristina Peters at kpeters@winsightmedia.com.
Aloha Petroleum
Aloha Petroleum Ltd., Honolulu, recently donated nearly $6,340 to the Hawaii State Chapter of the American Red Cross. The funds were collected during a two-month period via Aloha Petroleum’s statewide customer collection canister program. “The Red Cross is always there to help in the aftermath of disasters, both in our own community and across the globe, but they can’t do it alone,” said Richard Parry, president and CEO of Aloha Petroleum.
Aloha Petroleum has previously used its collection canister program to support numerous other nonprofit organizations, including the March of Dimes, Aloha Harvest, American Heart Association and the American Diabetes Association.
CEFCO
CEFCO Convenience Stores and parent company Fikes Wholesale Inc., announced at its 15th annual Hackers-R-Us Charity Golf Tournament in May that they will donate $760,000. Of the money raised this year, $510,000 will go to Children's Miracle Network Hospitals, and $250,000 will go to the Fikes Charities. To date, Temple, Texas-based CEFCO has raised almost $5 million for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals and various Fikes charitable causes.
Cumberland Farms
Framingham, Mass.-based Cumberland Farms and f'real foods raised $10,000 for Make-A-Wish to help grant wishes for children with life-threatening medical conditions. On May 20, Cumberland Farms and f'real sponsored a f'real day, during which customers could purchase f'real milkshakes, smoothies and frozen coffees for 99 cents. For every f'real purchased, Cumberland Farms and f'real donated 25 cents to Make-A-Wish.
Parker’s
Savannah, Ga.-based Parker’s recently donated $8,000 to Effingham County Schools through the company’s Fueling the Community program. Charlotte Connelly, principal of Guyton Elementary School in Guyton, Ga., accepted the check alongside pre-K students and teachers. Parker’s donates a portion of the proceeds from every gallon of gas purchased at all 44 of its convenience stores on the first Wednesday of each month to community schools. The Fueling the Community program launched in 2011 and donates more than $100,000 each year to public and private schools throughout Georgia and South Carolina.
Rutter’s
York, Pa.-based Rutter’s announced it will purchase a product placement sponsorship for the “Against The Odds” movie project, which is inspired by the true story of the Red Land baseball team’s U.S. Championship at the 2015 World Series in Williamsport, Pa. Rutter’s has long been a supporter of the Red Land Little League organization, with one of its stores located across the street from the Red Land fields.
Rutter’s joins two other central Pennsylvania-based corporations, Musselman’s Applesauce and the Harrisburg Senators, in sponsorship of the movie project.
Sunoco LP
Stripes Convenience Stores and APlus Stores, which are owned and operated by Sunoco LP, raised more than $1.8 million during a four-week fundraising campaign for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. Like all in-store CMN Hospitals fundraisers, funds raised from the Sunoco LP campaigns will stay in the community in which they were raised. Stripes and APlus have partnered with CMN Hospitals since 2000, raising more than $11 million for sick and injured kids.
Twice Daily
Twice Daily, Nashville, Tenn., and the Tennessee Soccer Club are teaming up to promote a healthy lifestyle among children and young adults who call middle Tennessee home. “We firmly believe that both Twice Daily and Tennessee Soccer Club have a common goal: providing healthy living options for our youth,” said Tennessee Soccer Club executive cirector Stuart Brown, "whether it be by providing opportunities to purchase fresh food options, like fruits and vegetables, or providing a competitive and fun environment for daily exercise.” As part of this partnership, Twice Daily's logo will be featured on training uniforms on all Tennessee Soccer Club players. The affiliation also furnishes both establishments with a platform to directly affect more than 1,400 active soccer players, ranging in age from 6 to 18.