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:
Jiffy Mart
Baltimore Ravens football fans were out in full force on April 18 to see their long snapper Morgan Cox, punter Sam Koch and kicker Justin Tucker at the Jiffy Mart “SNAP. HOLD. KICK.” charity autograph signing event. The event was held at the Westminster Greene Turtle in Maryland, where Jiffy Mart, among other sponsors, teamed up with the players to help raise both funds and awareness for Carroll County Food Sunday.
The event ran from 7 p.m. until 8:30 p.m., with more than 200 people lining up for autographs.
On behalf of the community and the event's sponsors, the Jiffy Mart team made a presentation of funds totaling $4,400 to Carroll County Food Sunday.
The Kroger Co.
The Kroger Co. raised more than $425,000 from customer and associate contributions to assist storm relief efforts in Oklahoma. In addition, Kroger committed to a corporate gift of $50,000 for a total cash contribution of more than $475,000 to support American Red Cross initiatives in the devastated area.
Many Kroger, Dillons and QFC stores across the country are helping customers donate through a variety of ways, including coin boxes at the checkout.
Nice N Easy Grocery Shoppes
Nice N Easy Grocery Shoppes recently announced a partnership with the American Cancer Society. Nice N Easy has donated $10,000 and partnered with Hershey’s to raise awareness.
During the months of May, June and July, Nice N Easy store employees are proudly wearing uniform shirts that display the American Cancer Society Relay for Life logo.
New York-based Nice N Easy Grocery Shoppes also sponsored or will sponsor the following Relay for Life events and encourages its employees and customers to participate or volunteer at their local relay events: Rome on June 1-2; Camden on June 1-2; Liverpool on June 14-15; Jefferson County on June 14-15; Tupper Lake on June 15-16; and Madison County on June 8-9.
Stewart’s Shops
Forty-six SUNY Empire State College students received a total of $40,000 in scholarships for the 2012-13 academic year, thanks to the support of Stewart’s Shops and the Empire State College Foundation.
In 2012, Stewart’s Shops renewed a three-year scholarship commitment and increased its gift to $60,000, or $20,000 each year for three years. The college foundation is matching this gift.
The scholarship program was established in 2007 with an annual gift of $14,000 per year, which continued through 2011. The college foundation has provided matching funds since the program began. When the current pledge is completed in 2015, this program will have provided almost a quarter of a million dollars in scholarship funding.
Stripes Convenience Stores
Stripes Convenience Stores customers and employees helped raise $953,462 for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals during its fundraising campaign April 1-28. The campaign ran in all 558 Stripes stores across Texas, New Mexico and Oklahoma. The record-breaking total exceeded the retailer's $850,000 goal and is a 23-percent increase over 2012 funds raised for local member children’s hospitals.
Stripes employees asked customers to purchase a $1 Miracle Balloon icon or donate loose change to raise funds for area Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. The icons were attached to coupons, providing customers an additional incentive to make the $1 purchase.
Overall, Stripes has raised more than $3.75 million for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals.
Because all donations made locally to Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals stay local, funds raised by Stripes Convenience Stores will benefit 12 Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals near Stripes stores.
TravelCenters of America LLC
TravelCenters of America presented a BP Fueling Communities grant of $30,000 to the St. Christopher Truckers Development & Relief Fund (SCF), a nonprofit organization that provides direct assistance to professional truck drivers whose medical problems have led to financial hardship. TravelCenters, a BP branded marketer, submitted the grant nomination for the SCF, which BP awarded for the third consecutive year.
The BP Fueling Communities program provides grants to local organizations that are nominated by BP’s branded marketers to support the communities in which they do business. Fueling Communities gives back to local organizations that support health, education, youth, food and housing to spread charity and goodwill.
TravelCenters has provided support to the SCF since 2010 through the company’s annual “Band Together for the SCF” fundraising campaign, as well as smaller collection efforts at trade shows and employee events throughout the year. To date, TravelCenters has helped raise more than $800,000 for the charity. During this time, the SCF has provided financial support to more than 700 professional drivers for prescription medications, living expenses and medical procedures.
VERC Enterprises
VERC Enterprises recently presented three Massachusetts schools with a check for $500 each, a grant made possible through the ExxonMobil Educational Alliance Program. The schools are Parker-Varney Elementary School, North Pembroke Elementary School and Fitchburg High School.
Funded by the ExxonMobil Corp., the ExxonMobil Educational Alliance Program is designed to provide local retailers an opportunity to invest in the future of their communities through educational grants to neighborhood schools.