7-Eleven, Suppliers Join Forces for Hire Heroes USA

DALLAS -- Hire Heroes USA is getting a fundraising boost from 7-Eleven Inc., a group of its franchise owners and the convenience store chain's top suppliers.

To join in the fundraising effort, customers can purchase specially marked products now through May at participating 7-Eleven locations. In turn, a portion from the sale of the item will be donated to Hire Heroes USA (HHUSA). The nonprofit HHUSA offers transition, job search and job placement assistance and service for returning veterans of Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom.

To keep track of the fundraising progress, 7-Eleven will post tags designating the donation amounts throughout the stores and a special display of participating products. Some companies joining the effort are Nestle USA, DrPepper-Snapple Group, Tropicana Products Inc., Mars Inc., MillerCoors, Kellogg's and Kraft Foods Inc.

"None of us can do enough to thank the wonderful American men and women in uniform who have served, and who continue to so selflessly serve, to protect our liberty and freedom," said 7-Eleven President and CEO Joe DePinto. "From my perspective, there is no higher calling. In many instances, these service members have paid the ultimate price or incurred wounds that will forever alter their lives. Hire Heroes USA is doing important work to ensure that when these veterans return home, they are able to find employment opportunities to support themselves and their families."

In addition to the fundraising campaign, 7-Eleven has said it will fill at least two field consultant positions with qualified veterans where available, and company reps will participate in workshops on military bases to discuss employment and franchising opportunities.

Furthermore, the National Coalition of Associations of 7-Eleven Franchisees (NCASEF), an umbrella organization of 7-Eleven U.S. franchisee associations, has pledged its support to HHUSA and will donate the proceeds from its annual golf tournament this July, expected to be as much as $100,000, to the veterans' assistance organization. Last year, the NCASEF raised $100,000 for Hire Heroes through its Joe Saraceno Golf Tournament.

"7-Eleven franchisees first got involved with the Hire Heroes organization last year and really believe in the importance of its mission," said NCASEF Chairman Bruce Maples. "So much so, that we recommended this cause to the company to give our customers an opportunity to help many worthy veterans."