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, CSNews Onlinewill highlight these philanthropic efforts in this special section. Here are the latest company spotlights:
Kangaroo Express
Kangaroo Express is donating $1 to the USO of North Carolina for every "Like" received on the Kangaroo Express Facebook page until Aug. 17 as part of its "Salute Our Troops" campaign. The campaign is inviting guests in The Pantry's more than 1,600 Kangaroo Express stores across 13 states to demonstrate united support for military personnel and families all summer long.
More than $1.5 million has already been donated by Kangaroo Express customers, with Charlotte, N.C., leading the funds raised in a single market. Donations from the campaign will support the USO, lifting the spirits of America's troops and their families; Wounded Warrior Project, honoring and empowering injured servicemen and women; and six state-based military support organizations, including the USO of N.C.
With five centers statewide, USO of N.C. serves an average of 330,000 troops over the course of a year, providing troops with all the comforts of home and offering support services and programs to military families.
7-Eleven
7-Eleven will contribute $1 million to the YWCA Oklahoma City capital campaign to build a new shelter for battered women and children, remodel the existing shelter and remodel the YWCA Oklahoma City McFarland Branch.
The funds raised from the three-year campaign will build an 85-bed shelter, nearly doubling the size of the current shelter. The 30-day emergency shelter will provide for immediate needs and lifesaving shelter for women and children who have experienced violence and abuse. The existing shelter will be transformed into a six-month extended stay shelter with innovative programs to create longer-term safety and self-sufficiency.
Oklahoma ranks 11th in the nation for women killed by men. Since 2000, there have been more than 1,000 domestic violence homicides in Oklahoma, but 95 percent of those homicide victims never accessed services, according to the YWCA.
Jim Brown, 7-Eleven Stores (Oklahoma) CEO, said supporting the YWCA's capital campaign is consistent with the company's mission to support the community that supports its stores.
The National Coalition of Associations of 7-Eleven Franchisees
The National Coalition of Associations of 7-Eleven Franchisees raised $410,000 for two charities during its 37th National Convention and Trade Show held in Honolulu last month.
A total of $340,000 was raised for Hire Heroes USA, a non-profit organization offering transition assistance, job search assistance and job placement services to those veterans injured or disabled in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operating Enduring Freedom.
Between May 1 and June 30, in concert with 7-Eleven, Inc. and 13 top suppliers, 7-Eleven franchisees raised funds through the sales of 39 specific products offered by the brand-name companies who donated a portion of each sale to the fundraising effort. Participating companies included Anheuser-Busch InBev, BIC, Dr Pepper Snapple Group, The Hershey Co., Kellogg's, Kraft Foods Inc., Mars Inc., MillerCoors, Nestlé Professional, Nestlé Waters, PepsiCo, and Perfetti van Melle. Additional funds were raised through the Joe Saraceno Memorial Golf Tournament held during the convention.
The National Coalition also raised $70,000 for Susan G. Komen for the Cure, which will be donated in October during National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The funds were raised through live and silent auctions as well as a raffle during the organization's convention.
BP
BP station owners of New York and New Jersey presented a BP Fueling Communities grant donation of $55,500 to four local Police Athletic League (PAL) chapters. The PAL chapters serve more than 45,000 local youth and will use the grant donation to help fund athletic facilities and sports programs. The donation was made possible by the support of 185 local BP station owners. The funding will be divided equally among the Nassau County, Suffolk County, New York City and Jersey City PAL chapters.
PepsiCo
PepsiCo and Feed The Children partnered for the second year to support the Hartford, Conn., community. Feed The Children, PepsiCo, Community Renewal Team and Price Rite brought two semi tractor-trailers full of food and essentials to Hartford to help 800 families in need.
Nearly one in seven children living in Hartford (12.8 percent) is considered impoverished.
PepsiCo is a longtime partner with Feed The Children and is sponsoring the distribution. PepsiCo and Price Rite are providing products to families at the event, including Frito-Lay snacks, Lipton tea, Quaker Oats and Quaker granola bars, packaged foods and fresh produce.
Feed The Children partner agency Community Renewal Team has pre-identified families receiving the boxes. In addition to the products provided by PepsiCo and Price Rite, each family will receive a 25-pound box of food and a box of personal care items. The boxes are designed to help a family of four for up to one week.
Otis Spunkmeyer
As part of its 2012 Pink Cookie sales promotion, Otis Spunkmeyer will donate $1.50 for every limited-edition product sold, with a minimum guaranteed donation of $100,000.
Available from now through the end of Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October, each chocolate cookie loaded with pink candy-coated chocolate pieces is 1.33-oz., pre-portioned for freezer-to-oven convenience and comes 240 per case.
Since 2010, Otis Spunkmeyer has donated more than $200,000 to Susan G. Komen for the Cure.