Community Service Spotlight

NATIONAL REPORT -- Giving back through community service efforts and charity donations is a positive force that keeps many retailers and suppliers of this industry moving ahead. On a regular basis, Convenience Store News highlights these philanthropic efforts in this special section.

Here are the latest company spotlights:

Aloha Petroleum Ltd.
Aloha Petroleum recently presented the March of Dimes, Hawaii Chapter, with a $17,916.64 donation to support the organization’s mission to improve the health of babies and expectant mothers. During January and February, Aloha Petroleum raised the money through a combination of canister donations and by selling World’s Finest Chocolate at its Aloha Island Mart convenience stores.

BP America
BP America will sponsor six U.S. Olympic and Paralympic athletes who are training for the Sochi 2014 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games as part of the company’s ongoing commitment to the U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC) and Team USA.

The company first announced its sponsorship of USOC and Team USA in February 2010. In 2011, it extended its partnership with USOC by becoming the official energy partner through 2016. BP will also continue to support charities of the athletes’ choice, in addition to local sports clubs that often serve as training grounds for future Olympians and Paralympians.

C.N. Brown Co.
C.N. Brown Co. and its Big Apple Food Stores in New England launched the "Apple of Our Eye" mobile program, selling paper apples for $1 from Sept. 1 through Oct. 12, with all proceeds going to the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA).

As an added bonus, each customer who purchases an "Apple of Our Eye" mobile will be automatically entered into a raffle to win one of 25 Apple iPad2s. C.N. Brown will conduct one drawing per sales territory in late October, so customers across Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont will have a chance to win.

All proceeds from the six-week promotion will benefit families in Maine to provide support, counseling, treatment and research into neuromuscular diseases. C.N. Brown is one of the largest supporters of the MDA, raising nearly $4.5 million through company-sponsored events over the past 28 years.

Exxon Mobil Corp.
ExxonMobil of Baton Rouge recently donated $100,000 to the Mayor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness. The grant will be used to update and improve the Red Stick Ready smartphone app and purchase an interactive mobile trailer that will simulate emergency scenarios to educate children. The trailer can simulate various emergencies, such as a shaking room for a tornado or smoke for a fire.

During an emergency, the Red Stick Ready app provides information about where to find sandbags and sand, government office closures, road closures, school closures and evacuation shelters. The app also provides tips on what to do in the case of extreme heat, flood, storm, tornado and extreme cold.

Maverik Inc.
Maverik Inc. convenience stores along the Wasatch Front of Utah are accepting donations until Oct. 1 for the family of slain hero Sgt. Derek Ray Johnson of the Draper City Police Department, who was killed in the line of duty.

Sixty Maverik stores have placed donation jars at the front counters for customers who wish to make a contribution to the family. In addition, Maverik Adventure Club Card members can donate their Trail Points to the Derek Johnson Memorial Fund via the “WinStuff” section on Maverik’s Rewards website.

National Coalition of Associations of 7-Eleven Franchisees
The National Coalition of Associations of 7-Eleven Franchisees (NCASEF), in partnership with 7-Eleven Inc. and 15 vendor partners, recently made its single largest financial commitment ever to a charitable organization — Hire Heroes USA. The nonprofit offers transition and job search assistance to military veterans and their spouses. The $750,000 commitment, to be paid in early 2014, was announced during the recent NCASEF National Convention.

The largest part of the donation will come from percentage contributions made through an annual cause equity campaign to run in November and December, during which franchisees will sell sponsored products and a portion of the sales will benefit Hire Heroes. More than $98,000 of the donation was also raised during NCASEF’s annual Joe Saraceno Charity Golf Tournament, held during the July convention.

The NSASEF commitment also includes support from vendors including Hershey, Kellogg’s, Wrigley, Anheuser-Busch, E.& J. Gallo Winery, BIC, MillerCoors, Nestlé Professional, Mars, Mondelēz International, Perfetti Van Melle, PepsiCo, MET-Rx, General Mills and Nestlé Waters.

X
This ad will auto-close in 10 seconds