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 will highlight these philanthropic efforts in this special section.
Here are the latest company spotlights:
Valero Energy Corp.
Valero Corner Stores raised $2.1 million in their 2012 Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) fundraising campaign, an amount that represents a daily average of more than $75,000 during the 28-day campaign. This is the second time in the history of Valero's MDA campaigns that it achieved over $2 million in donations.
The retailer's Corner Stores raise the funds each year through the sale of "Shamrocks" to customers. This year continues the strong tradition of raising funds to support important research and bring comfort to those affected by neuromuscular diseases, according to the company.
Speedway LLC
Throughout the month of May, Speedway will donate a portion of its proceeds from the sale of all fountain drinks and Speedy Freeze purchases to support Children's Miracle Network Hospitals, a charity that raises funds for 170 children's hospitals.
All funds raised by each Speedway location will go to the Children's Miracle Network Hospital serving that community.
Speedway has been a partner of Children's Miracle Network Hospitals since 1991. In addition to this monthlong promotion in May, Speedway raises funds for Children's Miracle Network Hospitals throughout the year with the support of customers, vendor partners and store associates. In 2011, Speedway raised a record $6.1 million. The company has contributed more than $45 million over the past 20 years to the charity.
Handee Marts
Handee Marts presented a check for $6,500 to the Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh Foundation. The grant was funded by BP's Fueling Communities Program, which provides grants to local organizations that are nominated by BP branded marketers to support the communities in which they do business.
This was the second consecutive year that Handee Marts nominated the Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh Foundation for a grant. Along with other fundraisers the company holds annually for Children's Hospital, the retailer increased its total giving to nearly $600,000.
CHS Inc.
More than 2.45 million meals are headed to hungry families thanks to the second annual CHS Harvest for Hunger food and funds drive, organized by the Country Operations division of CHS Inc., the nation's leading farmer-owned cooperative.
This year's CHS Harvest for Hunger campaign surpassed last year's drive by more than 450,000 meals. In addition, CHS Country Operations bolstered donations to CHS Harvest for Hunger by nearly $220,000 with contributions to local communities to help friends and neighbors.
CHS Harvest for Hunger was held March 1-16 at most of the Country Operations retail locations. Donations collected went to regional food banks. Fundraising activities varied at each location and included such events as pig-kissing and pie-throwing contests, pancake breakfasts, luncheons and food collections.
ExxonMobil Corp.
ExxonMobil and its employees are donating $40 million to higher-education institutions across the country as part of the ExxonMobil Foundation's 2011 Educational Matching Gift Program. ExxonMobil employees, retirees, directors and surviving spouses contributed $12 million, which was matched with $28 million in unrestricted grants from the ExxonMobil Foundation.
The program matches donor pledges 3-to-1, up to $7,500 to qualified colleges and universities in the United States, along with the American Indian College Fund, Hispanic Scholarship Fund and the United Negro College Fund. Since the Educational Matching Gift Program began in 1962, more than $477 million has been donated to American institutions of higher learning.
In other ExxonMobil giving news, the ExxonMobil Foundation recently contributed more than $10 million in grants to fight malaria, bringing its total commitment to more than $110 million since 2000. The funding will support lifesaving programs and proven, scalable methods for preventing and treating malaria through leading organizations including Malaria No More, Africare, the United Nations Foundation, USAID, The Harvard Malaria Initiative, Jhpiego, Population Service International, UNICEF and the Medicines for Malaria Venture.
CITGO Petroleum Corp.
Several winners have been named in the latest round of CITGO's Fueling Good campaign. Among them:
-- CITGO and local marketer Flash Oil recognized Youth Home Inc. of Little Rock, Ark., as a 2012 Winter Fueling Good winner. Offering programs for children between the ages of 12 and 17 who are experiencing emotional, behavioral, social and academic problems, Youth Home received $5,000 in CITGO gift cards to help extend its services and provide more children and families the assistance they need.
-- CITGO and Warex Terminals Corp. recognized the Stony Brook Cancer Center Foundation as a 2012 Winter Fueling Good winner. The Stony Brook Cancer Center will receive $5,000 in CITGO gift cards to power its new shuttle bus, providing more than 1,000 miles of shuttle service for cancer patients in Long Island, and to assist with the daily living needs of cancer patients.
-- CITGO recognized Friends of the Columbia County Traveling Library (Pennsylvania) as another 2012 Winter Fueling Good winner. Providing local residents with convenient access to books, the Columbia County Traveling Library bookmobile received $5,000 in CITGO gift cards, which will allow it to travel thousands of miles serving those who live far from any public library facility. In 2011, the Columbia County Traveling Library's headquarters was severely damaged by record flooding, which resulted in $70,000 of uninsured losses.
-- CITGO and local marketer Gate Petroleum recognized The Original 1-800 Charity Cars of Longwood, Fla., as a 2012 Winter Fueling Good winner. Providing donated vehicles to struggling families nationwide, the non-profit received $5,000 in gift cards to help more families in the year ahead. Established in 1996, The Original 1-800 Charity Cars is the nation's largest car donation and distribution program, distributing more than 4,500 vehicles to date. The non-profit provides free vehicles and vehicle support services to assist disadvantaged families in their transition from dependency to self-sufficiency. The refurbished vehicles ensur safety and reliability to families willing to work.