(Credit: American Red Cross)
Continuing an annual tradition, the American Red Cross, Wawa and The Wawa Foundation came together Wednesday to reveal a record-setting fundraiser, recognize volunteers, dedicate a new lifesaving bloodmobile and announce a new program that aims to keep families safe.
The event was held on July 24, also known as “24/7 Day.” The annual event, championed by the National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS) Foundation, recognizes first responders, medical personnel and American Red Cross volunteers who work around the clock, 24/7, to serve communities and ensure people don’t face emergencies alone and spotlights the role Wawa associates play in supporting local heroes and the communities they serve.
“The Red Cross responds to more than 60,000 disasters every year and provides 40% of the nation’s blood,” says Jennifer Graham, Regional CEO of the American Red Cross of Southeastern Pennsylvania. “We’re thankful for the role Wawa and The Wawa Foundation play in helping us save lives and at the same time recognize American Red Cross volunteers, who really are heroes in their communities.”
Year after year, the Red Cross and the Wawa Foundation team up in several ways to provide support to help communities prepare for, respond to and recover from disasters big and small, as well as highlight the importance of blood donations.
This year, as part of 24/7 Day on July 24, Wawa, The Wawa Foundation and the American Red Cross revealed the following:
• A check presentation from The Wawa Foundation for more than $707,557, representing donations from its 2024 in-store customer fundraising campaign. The donation is a new record, supporting American Red Cross Disaster Relief across eight states.
• The presentation of 15,000 Free Any Size Hot Beverage coupons to American Red Cross volunteers across its chain to express Wawa’s gratitude for everything the volunteers do for their communities.
• Unveiling of The Wawa Foundation American Red Cross bloodmobile, which will be in service across eastern Pennsylvania, collecting thousands of donations each year.
• Announcement of the launch of the “Partners in Preparedness” program, designed to educate and support the community. The Red Cross and Wawa are teaming up to share lifesaving preparedness tools and resources for various types of emergencies with Wawa customers and associates in all markets. Materials will appear externally on Wawa.com, and on Wawa’s video at the fuel pumps, and internally on Wawa’s intranet.
“We are thrilled to celebrate our partnership with the American Red Cross by announcing our annual campaign results, and recognizing the volunteers who serve communities 24/7,” says Brian Schaller, President of Wawa. “Wawa and The Wawa Foundation are committed to building stronger communities and partners like the Red Cross provide vital services that deliver that mission. It’s particularly meaningful to recognize this on 24/7 Day as we thank all the Red Cross volunteers who are truly heroes making themselves available around the clock.”
