Community Service Spotlight: Circle K, Maverik & CEFCO
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:
Bazco Oil Co.
Bazco Oil celebrated the grand opening of its newest CITGO location in Dearborn, Mich., by raising money for breast cancer awareness and research. The company offered a discount of 20 cents per gallon on gasoline and on May 3, 10 cents from each gallon of fuel sold went to support the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure.
The event also marked more than 25 years of Bazco Oil serving communities in Michigan and Ohio.
CEFCO Convenience Stores
At its 13th annual “Hackers-R-Us” Charity Golf Tournament held in May, CEFCO and parent company Fikes Wholesale Inc. announced a record grand total of $695,000 raised. Of that amount, $645,000 will go to Children's Miracle Network Hospitals and $50,000 will go to the Central Texas A&M C.E. Fikes Endowed Scholarship.
CEFCO's 2014 fundraising total marks some exciting milestones for the organization. In 1999, CEFCO began its partnership with Children's Miracle Network Hospitals, with $700 raised in its stores. To date, CEFCO has raised nearly $3.1 million for Children's Miracle Network Hospitals, various C.E. Fikes Endowed Scholarships and the McLane Children’s Hospital Scott & White.
Circle K Stores Inc.
Midwest and Great Lakes Circle K convenience store employees asked customers to "Put Their Money Where The Miracles Are" this spring, raising a total of $1,357,138.59 in donations for Children's Miracle Network Hospitals. This year’s campaign marked an increase of more than $123,000 over last year’s total.
Participating Circle K stores collected donations by selling Miracle Balloon icons for $1 and larger balloons for a $3, $5 or $10 donation. The 22-day campaign took place in 1,173 Circle K locations and will benefit 30 children’s hospitals.
Circle K has been a partner of Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals since 2000, raising more than $8 million to date.
Kum & Go LC
About 25 Kum & Go employees helped build two Habitat for Humanity homes in Des Moines, Iowa, last month. The retailer will sponsor a full house construction in Minot, N.D., this summer and the company also has helped with projects in Des Moines, Loveland, Colo., and Rogers, Ark.
More than 420 Kum & Go stores across 11 states have collected $262,000 in customer donations for Habitat. Additionally, Kum & Go has provided an estimated $200,000, for a total contribution of $462,000.
Maverik Inc.
Maverik presented Sportsmen for Warriors a check for $113,212.32 in May at a benefit dinner. Sportsmen for Warriors is an organization that helps veterans struggling with post-traumatic stress disorder and their families by promoting healing and family connections through outdoor recreational activities.
Maverik owner Crystal Maggelet agreed to match all money donated by Maverik customers. In less than 40 days, customers donated their spare change in collection boxes that totaled $46,917.16. Additionally, Maverik Adventure Club Card holders donated $9,860 in Adventure Club Trail Points.
St. Romain Oil
St. Romain Oil collected 6,650 jars of peanut butter and $12,780 for the Food Bank of Central Louisiana and the Ville Platte Care and Share Food Pantry as a part of its Corporate Works of Mercy program, an ongoing effort to refuel and refresh communities.
The company, which operates the Y-Not chain of convenience stores, held the Y-Not Peanut Butter Drive during the first weekend of April, where it raised funds from the community ($6,646), sponsors ($2,737) and employees ($1,565). The jars and money were delivered to the Food Bank of Central Louisiana in a "peanut butter parade."
St. Romain Oil created the Corporate Works of Mercy program in 2012 with the goal of aiding people in the communities its stores serve. The program partners with four local organizations: Food Bank of Central Louisiana, Hope House, Faith House and Re-Entry Solutions. Since 2007, St. Romain Oil also has been a proud sponsor of the Alzheimer’s Association, raising over $100,000 to support research and awareness.