As another summer came to a close, the convenience retail industry continued to support the communities it serves.
Maverik convenience stores, with locations throughout the western United States, in partnership with Swire Coca-Cola, raised $686,576 for the National Park Foundation (NPF). The funds will enable children to connect with meaningful experiences in nature through the NPF’s Open OutDoors for Kids program.
Funds were raised through Round Up Your Change, a customer donation campaign that ran over the summer. Customers were able to donate at the register upon checkout. Donations from customers totaled $411,576, and Maverik offered another $250,000 while Swire donated $25,000, bringing the program’s coffers to nearly $700,000.
“We’re incredibly thankful for our customers’ generosity and excited they share Maverik’s enthusiasm for helping provide children access and educational opportunities at America’s national parks—some of the world’s biggest outdoor classrooms,” said president and chief adventure guide of Maverik Chuck Maggelet.
This donation will benefit approximately 20,000 students.
Since 2011, Open OutDoors for Kids—NPF’s flagship youth program—has served nearly two million students, many from under-resourced school districts and Title 1 schools. By funding field trips, educational resources, virtual experiences and classroom visits, students and educators have had once in a lifetime opportunities to engage with and learn from nature in national parks.
By activating the program at over 30 national park sites across Maverik’s footprint, this donation will benefit approximately 20,000 students.
“The Cola-Cola Company has long been committed to protecting parks, as the longest standing corporate partner of the National Park Foundation,” said Katie Lattanzi, VP, convenience retail, Swire Coca-Cola.
Chad Jones, senior vice president of corporate partnerships at the National Park Foundation, said, “Engaging young people in educational experiences in national parks is critically important, and we thank Maverik and Swire for helping connect more kids to these special places through their generous support.”
In The Community
Every year, the convenience retail industry dedicates billions of dollars to advancing the futures of individuals and families in our communities. The NACS Foundation unifies and builds on NACS members’ charitable efforts to amplify their work in communities across America and to share these powerful stories.
Learn more at www.conveniencecares.org.
Wawa Supports Schools
All day, every day in September, teachers and school administration staff were able to receive free hot coffee at Wawa locations in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C. Additionally, Wawa designated a $50,000 matching fund to DonorsChoose, an online resource for teachers to submit funding requests for school supplies and support.
MAPCO Makes Over Music Classroom
MAPCO and music education nonprofit Music Will recently partnered to make over Danielle Taylor’s music classroom at Smith Springs Elementary School in Antioch, Tennessee. The one-day project launched with a school assembly that featured a performance from local Nashville country artist Redferrin. During the assembly, MAPCO presented a $25,000 check to the CMA Foundation on behalf of Luke Combs and Whiskey Jam. Volunteers painted murals, assembled donated furniture and set up new recording equipment. MAPCO’s Giveback program provided a grant to Music Will, which provides free music instruction and instruments to K-12 students across the country.
Cubby’s Raises Some Dough for Schools
Cubby’s, headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, raised $13,219 in the second quarter of 2023 for schools and youth programs through its Raise Some Dough program. Twenty-one Cubby’s locations in Nebraska, Iowa and South Dakota participated in the Raise Some Dough program. In 2022, the fundraising program contributed $35,110 to local school districts. The program has raised $24,270 in 2023 through the end of the second quarter of the year.
Casey’s Fourth Annual Cash for Classrooms Campaign
Beginning in August and running through September 5, Casey’s guests could round up their purchases to raise funds for students, families and educators. Casey’s, together with its generous guests and LIFEWTR, have raised $1 million annually in the last three years, awarding grants to more than 250 schools across its 16-state footprint. In 2022, 79 grants were awarded to K-12 schools in 75 Casey’s communities.
7-Eleven Unites for Maui
In the wake of the wildfires that occurred in August, the 7-Eleven global family of brands, comprising more than 84,000 stores across 20 countries and regions, united to offer support to the historic lands of Lahaina, Maui. Together, the family of brands donated approximately $393,343, raised through corporate and customer donations. Donations were made to the Hawai’i Community Foundation Maui Strong Fund, the American Red Cross Hawai’i Wildfire Relief Fund and the Salvation Army.