Community Service Spotlight: Little General, CHS & Western Refining
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:
CHS Inc.
More than $512,000 and 443,000 pounds of food are headed to hungry families thanks to the fourth-annual CHS Harvest for Hunger food and funds drive. This drive was conducted by the Country Operations division of CHS Inc., parent company to the Cenex brand.
Since the launch of Harvest for Hunger in 2011, more than $1.6 million and 2.1 million pounds of food have been collected. Donations go to regional food banks. More than 50 CHS business units and more than 4,000 employees participated in the 2014 Harvest for Hunger drive, which took place March 1-20.
Exxon Mobil Corp.
ExxonMobil and its employees donated $2.5 million to higher education institutions across Louisiana as part of the ExxonMobil Foundation's 2013 Educational Matching Gift Program. This represents an increase of 5 percent over the prior year.
Throughout 2013, ExxonMobil employees, retirees, directors and surviving spouses contributed $767,400, which was matched with $1.7 million in unrestricted grants from the ExxonMobil Foundation. The program matches donor pledges three to one.
Nationwide, close to 900 institutions received a total of $44 million through the 2013 Educational Matching Gift Program, an increase of 10 percent over the prior year.
Little General Convenience Stores
Little General kicked off a multi-week campaign to raise funds for the Children’s Home Society of West Virginia. Brightly colored paper flowers will be sold at Little General stores statewide for $1.
Funds raised through the effort will be used to support child assistance programs, such as emergency child shelters, foster care, adoption, mentoring, early intervention and numerous other family support programs offered by the Children’s Home Society.
This campaign is being conducted by the West Virginia Oil Marketers & Grocers Association and will run through Mother’s Day, May 11.
Quality State Oil
Quality State Oil and CITGO Petroleum Corp. raised more than $32,000 to support the local Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) chapter during this year’s Q Mart Shamrocks Against Dystrophy campaign. From Feb. 1 through March 17, customers at 18 participating Q Mart stations in the Sheboygan, Wis., area were encouraged to purchase paper shamrocks that were posted around the store as a sign of commitment to the cause.
The proceeds from the shamrocks sold will support programs for local families living with neuromuscular diseases. The funds raised will be spent in the community where they were raised to support MDA research and physical therapy consultations, and to send local children to MDA summer camp.
CITGO is the largest corporate sponsor for MDA, having raised more than $160 million over the past 27 years through its network of independent marketers, as well as employee and corporate contributions.
Western Refining Inc.
More than 230 Western Refining convenience stores, including Giant, Mustang, Sundial and Howdy’s throughout the Southwest, will join forces with the Muscular Dystrophy Association for the third consecutive year for the “Make a Muscle, Make a Difference" mobile campaign to help families affected by muscle disease.
From April 29 through June 2, Western Refining subsidiaries located throughout Arizona, southwest Colorado, New Mexico and southwest Texas will sell $1 and $5 pin-up mobiles, offering customers the opportunity to donate to their local community and help support families served by the MDA.
Last year, more than $351,824 was raised by Western Refining. This year’s goal is $370,000.