Wawa & The Wawa Foundation Announce Crisis Campaign to Assist in Disaster Relief Effort

WAWA, Pa., Aug. 29, 2017 -- Wawa, Inc. and The Wawa Foundation Inc. today announced the launch of a chain-wide, in-store crisis campaign, designed to provide disaster relief assistance to those communities most affected by Hurricane Harvey.  The campaign is being held in partnership with the American Red Cross and allows customers to help contribute to Hurricane Harvey disaster relief by adding $1, $3, or $5 to their Wawa purchase at checkout.  

“Wawa has always had a strong commitment to providing crisis response and assisting those in need, and we’ve been partnering with the American Red Cross in these kinds of efforts for decades,” said Chris Gheysens, Wawa’s CEO.  “We have a long history of supporting the Red Cross that includes providing aid for Hurricanes Andrew, Katrina and Rita, and the Midwestern Floods, the Asian Tsunamis, September 11, the Haitian relief effort and Hurricane Sandy.  We are committed to doing everything we can to assist in this ongoing disaster.”  

All donations made through The Wawa Foundation’s campaign will be donated to the Red Cross and will be designated specifically for Hurricane Harvey disaster relief efforts. These funds will be used to help the Red Cross provide immediate and vital support to those communities suffering from the effects of Hurricane Harvey. 

The Wawa Foundation will match the first $50,000 of all customer donations during the campaign.   The campaign will run from August 30 through Sept. 8 in all of Wawa’s over 760 stores throughout Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia and Florida.

“We want to do everything we can to support our friends and neighbors in this time of need,” said Jay Culotta, President of The Wawa Foundation.  “We are constantly overwhelmed by the concern and generosity of our customers and associates, who realize that through a small donation, they can help make a huge difference.”

“Thanks to the generosity of donors such as Wawa and The Wawa Foundation, the Red Cross is able to support those affected by Hurricane Harvey with food, shelter and the necessary humanitarian supplies to ensure people are safe,” said Don Herring, Chief Development Officer at the American Red Cross. “We are so grateful for the support of The Wawa Foundation, Wawa and their customers as we work together to provide hope and help to people in need.”

About Wawa, Inc.

Wawa, Inc., a privately held company, began in 1803 as an iron foundry in New Jersey. Toward the end of the 19th Century, owner George Wood took an interest in dairy farming and the family began a small processing plant in Wawa, PA in 1902.  The milk business was a huge success, due to its quality, cleanliness and “certified” process.  As home delivery of milk declined in the early 1960s, Grahame Wood, George’s grandson, opened the first Wawa Food Market in 1964 as an outlet for dairy products. Today, Wawa is your all day, every day stop for fresh, built-to-order foods, beverages, coffee, fuel services, and surcharge-free ATMs.  In 2015, Wawa was named “America’s Most Beloved Convenience Store” by a Market Force study of 7,000 consumers, and in 2016 and 2017 Wawa was recognized in Forbes as one of America’s Best Large Employers, a survey-based ranking of employers offering the best associate experiences and strongest opportunities. A chain of more than 760 convenience retail stores (550 offering gasoline), Wawa stores are located in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia and Florida.

About The Wawa Foundation

The Wawa Foundation is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded by Wawa, Inc. to support the company’s charitable giving and philanthropic activities, and ultimately to help build stronger communities.  The Wawa Foundation focuses its support on organizations committed to health, hunger and everyday heroes through local, state and national grants and / or in-store fundraising, such as, donation boxes and point-of-purchase scan materials. 

Contact: [email protected]