Community Service Roundup, September 2023
Community Service Roundup, September 2023
By Rachel Gignac on Oct. 16, 2023EG America
EG America, Westborough, Massachusetts, encouraged customers to donate a dollar amount of their choosing at any of EG’s 1,700 convenience store locations to support United Way, a network of local nonprofit fundraising affiliates.
All in-store guest donations went toward United Way’s mission to provide meals to families in need across the country. There are currently more than 1,300 United Way chapters in the nation with 98% funding food pantries and food banks and 45% owning and operating at least one food insecurity program.
This marks the fourth fundraiser between EG America and United Way with more than $563,000 raised to date. Each year’s campaign focuses on a different issue at the core of United Way’s mission of service, with September’s focus on food insecurity.
RaceTrac
RaceTrac, Atlanta, brought back its Run for Research 5K race this month. All proceeds—including 100% of registration fees—went directly to The Michael J. Fox Foundation’s global research programs seeking better treatments and a cure for Parkinson’s disease.
RaceTrac’s Run for Research is part of the company’s wider RaceTrac Gives Back initiative which supports several causes that help make people’s lives simpler and more enjoyable. Each year in April, during Parkinson’s Awareness Month, customers have added $1 to their in-store purchases or selected a special, $1 candy bar to support The Michael J. Fox Foundation. During one week in April, all coffee proceeds are also donated directly to the foundation. This year, RaceTrac raised more than $700,000.
Parker’s Kitchen
Parker’s Kitchen, Charleston, South Carolina, donated $135,000 through a round-up campaign to support the Lowcountry Food Bank, a nonprofit organization providing food to more than 200,000 food-insecure individuals across 10 counties in coastal South Carolina every year.
The donation is part of a recent Parker’s Kitchen round-up campaign, which encouraged customers to round up their purchases to the nearest dollar, with the company matching 25% of customer donations to maximize the campaign’s impact.
Parker’s also donated $107,000 to America’s Second Harvest of Coastal Georgia, a nonprofit that serves as the food safety net in a 21-county area.
In another fundraising endeavor, Parker’s donated $75,000 to support Beaufort County School District teachers and staff through its Fueling the Community program. The Fueling the Community charitable initiative donates a percentage of gas sold at all Parker’s and Parker’s Kitchen locations on the first Wednesday of each month to area schools.
7-Eleven
The 7-Eleven global family of brands donated approximately $393,343 to support Lahaina, Maui, following the wildfires through corporate and customer donations.
Seven-Eleven Japan Co. Ltd., Tokyo, rallied its network from August 15-28, collecting customer contributions via donation canisters at 21,442 store locations nationwide. The collected funds, totaling approximately $305,705, went to the Hawaii Community Foundation Maui Strong Fund.
7-Eleven Hawaii Inc., a unit of Seven-Eleven Japan, based in Honolulu, extended its support through in-store donation canister collections and food and monetary contributions. The donation canisters at 66 locations totaled $10,387.90, were directed toward the Hawaii Community Foundation Maui Strong Fund. Additionally, the company contributed $20,000 toward the American Red Cross and the Salvation Army, each receiving $10,000. In a collaborative effort with commissary partner Warabeya U.S.A., the company provided nutrition bars and fresh food items to Maui evacuation shelters.
7-Eleven Inc. demonstrated its commitment to the cause with a 7-Eleven Cares Foundation donation of $25,000 and employee donations of $7,250, all specifically allocated toward the American Red Cross Hawaii Wildlife Relief Fund. 7-Eleven International, LLC also made a corporate donation of $25,000 to the Hawaii Community Foundation Maui Strong Fund.
Casey’s
Ankeny, Iowa-based Casey’s and Gatorade partnered to empower athletes of all abilities and offer customers the chance to win one of 1,500 Casey’s gift cards, each valued at up to $15, through the Gatorade Fuel Sports for All Giveaway.
Gatorade made a donation to three Move United local chapters: Oklahoma Adaptive Sports Association, Catalyst Sports and Midwest Adaptive Sports (up to a total maximum of $60,000 divided equally among the organizations).
Pilot
Pilot, Knoxville, Tennessee, donated $20,000 to the Pulaski County Special School District will help support career and technical education programs for Harris Elementary School. The chain made the donation at the celebration of its new travel center in North Little Rock, Arkansas.
Spinx
Spinx, Greenville, South Carolina, awarded $512,000 in grants to local non-profit organizations.
In March 2023, the Foundation opened its doors to grant proposals from non-profit organizations across the Carolinas. Twenty-two applications were submitted, and 16 organizations were selected as recipients.
The organizations include Camperdown Academy, Compass of the Carolina, The Courage Center, Favor Upstate, First Impression of SC, Furman University, Greenville Airport Commission, Greenville County Schools-Ace Awards, Greenville Technical Charter High School, Greenville Tech Foundation, The Phoenix-Stand Together, Project Host, The Salvation Army and the YMCA of Greenville.
Additionally, the Foundation provided gifts to Community Foundation, Unity Park Bridge and United Way.
Northwest Petroleum
Northwest Petroleum (NWP), a fuel distribution company based in Houston, held its NWP 5th Annual Charity Classic golf tournament and raised more than $260,000.
This year, the Charity Classic supported The Lighthouse of Houston, an organization serving the visually impaired community.
“I’m deeply humbled by the community’s overwhelming support; together, we’re not just playing golf, we’re shaping futures for the visually impaired,” said Fazil Malik, CEO of NWP.