Giving back through community service efforts and charity donations
is a positive force that keeps many retailers and suppliers of the convenience
store industry moving ahead. On a regular basis, Convenience Store News
highlights these philanthropic efforts in this special section.
The
Pantry's Kangaroo Express
Kangaroo Express, The Pantry Inc.'s
convenience store brand, delivered a $233,426 check to Give Kids the World in
Kissimmee, Fla. The check was the culmination of a fundraiser held throughout
the state. Customers donated to Give Kids the World either by donating change or
buying a $1 or $5 pinup to hang in one of Kangaroo Express' 400 Florida
convenience stores.
Give Kids the World provides week-long vacations to
children with life-threatening illnesses and their families, including a place
to stay and theme park tickets.
SuperAmerica
For the
second consecutive year, SuperAmerica has been named the top fundraising sponsor
for the Gillette Children's Specialty Healthcare. In 2011, the convenience store
chain raised $724,758.12 for Gillette, Minnesota's designated Children's Miracle
Network Hospital.
A longtime Children's Miracle Network Hospitals
sponsor, SuperAmerica's more than 166 participating stores raise funds for
Gillette through year-round events, including cookouts, sports tournaments and
gas-a-thons. Weeklong "ask" campaigns, held once each quarter, supplement
fundraising efforts. During the campaigns, employees ask customers to either
make a cash donation or round their purchase up to the next dollar.
Stores' combined efforts have raised more than $3,115,000 for Gillette
in the last 13 years, funding treatments and services for children who have
disabilities and complex medical conditions.
ExxonMobil Corp.
The ExxonMobil Foundation is collaborating with National Engineers
Week for the ninth consecutive year to present "Introduce a Girl to
Engineering," where ExxonMobil employees will host students at 13 company
locations across the country. The program seeks to promote curiosity among
middle school students and help shrink the gender gap in science, technology,
engineering and math (STEM) fields.
ExxonMobil employees will lead fun,
hands-on activities that connect math and science to real life, while also
reinforcing classroom instruction. Activities may include demonstrations on how
the energy industry uses 3D technology to search for oil and natural gas; water
purification experiments; bridge-building with straws; exploring the science of
manufacturing cosmetics; and panel discussions with ExxonMobil engineers.
Since ExxonMobil began the program more than a decade ago, more than
4,000 students have participated in math and science activities conducted at
ExxonMobil facilities, or had a classroom visit from a company volunteer.
In other ExxonMobil Foundation news, 30 North Texas nonprofit agencies
will participate in the 2012 ExxonMobil Community Summer Jobs Program. The
program provides much-needed assistance to nonprofit agencies while giving
college students valuable work experience and a better understanding of the
important role of nonprofit organizations.
Paid summer internship
positions involve students in a range of activities, from coordinating housing
for area residents to developing summer programs for underprivileged children.
In addition to daily internship duties, students will also team up for a group
service project. Qualified college students interested in gaining hands-on
experience in the nonprofit sector this summer are encouraged to apply.
To be eligible, applicants must be current undergraduate students
returning to college as a full-time (minimum 12 credit hours per semester)
sophomore, junior or senior in the fall of 2012.
Since 1990, the
ExxonMobil Foundation has contributed more than $3.7 million to fund the program
in Dallas, subsidizing 1,535 internships and benefitting more than 300
agencies.
Source: ConvenienceStoreNews.com, 02/24/12