Community Service Spotlight: Circle K, Parker's & Royal Farms
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:
Aloha Petroleum Ltd.
Honolulu-based Aloha Petroleum donated $6,339.08 to the Hawaii State Chapter of the American Red Cross. The money was raised over a two-month period through Aloha Petroleum's statewide customer collection canister program.
"The Red Cross is always there to help in the aftermath of disasters, both in our own community and across the globe, but they can't do it alone," said Richard Parry, president and CEO of Aloha Petroleum. "We're so grateful, once again, to our customers for their incredible generosity in supporting the efforts of the Red Cross"
Aloha Petroleum used its customer collection canister program earlier this year to also raise $27,797.20 for the American Diabetes Association. Throughout January and February, Aloha collected canister donations at its Aloha Island Mart convenience stores on Oahu, Maui, Kauai, and Hawaii Island, as well as at select Shell locations.
Circle K
Circle K and Irving Oil marked the finale of its monthlong Fueling Dreams campaign that supports New England Special Olympics athletes and their programs.
On Aug. 27, Irving Oil, Circle K, Special Olympic athletes and law enforcement officers pumped gas and washed windshields for customers at participating Irving Oil locations throughout New England. From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Irving Oil donated $1 for every fuel transaction.
Since 1999, Irving Oil and Circle K have raised nearly $4 million for Special Olympics in New England. Each year, Irving Oil and Circle K locations offer commemorative clings for $1 donations during the Fueling Dreams campaign.
Parker's Convenience Stores
Savannah, Ga.-based Parker's donated $50,000 to Memorial University Medical Center in Savannah as part of a larger $1-million endowment to support the Parker's Emergency & Trauma Center at Memorial.
Greg Parker, CEO of Parker's, presented a check to Jay Goldstein, the medical director of emergency services at Memorial. This spring, Memorial University Medical Center completed the final phase of renovation on the Parker's Emergency and Trauma Center, a $15-million project that doubled the amount of available treatment space.
Royal Farms
Royal Farms, based in Baltimore, recognized three local nonprofits at its seventh-annual Royal Farms Golf Classic: Living Classrooms, the Hampden Family Center, and the St. Francis Neighborhood Center.
Serving a combined total of thousands of local children and adults per month, the organizations' goals range from striving to end poverty through education, to inspiring self-esteem, to strengthening connections to the neighborhood. All three struggle to accept all who are interested in their services due to lack of space, as well as funding.
"These organizations are providing vitally needed services to their, and our, communities, and we are very proud to support them," commented Brittany Eldredge, Royal Farms public relations manager. "We're honored to provide assistance to organizations where the benefit can be seen immediately, and on a local level. We plan on working more with these organizations through volunteer work and mentoring at their facilities, and are excited about forming long and lasting partnerships with them."
Tesoro Corp.
Tesoro, owner of the ARCO brand, is partnering with Goodwill Southern California (GSC) to help further the nonprofit's mission of "Transforming Lives Through the Power of Work." The multi-year commitment includes direct cash contributions and community fundraising events at 400 ARCO stations that operate in the same counties as GSC.
ARCO will also launch a co-branded marketing campaign designed to generate positive awareness about GSC and actions taken by the nonprofit that help those in need. GSC will display co-branded messaging at its retail locations and on some of the nonprofit's truck fleet.
"We're proud to partner with Goodwill Southern California to help build brighter futures for people in need," said Robert Bezner, senior director of brand management at Tesoro. "It's good business to give back to the communities we serve."