PHILADELPHIA – The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) announced the opening of the new Wawa Volunteer Center, funded by a $5 million philanthropic gift from The Wawa Foundation.
During the April 12 press conference, the hospital’s existing volunteer program, which had 500 volunteers deliver more than 30,000 service hours in 2015, was officially renamed the Wawa Volunteer Program. The event featured opening remarks by CHOP and Wawa executives, as well as a grateful patient family. CHOP also awarded Steve Wenzel, a Wawa employee and 25-year hospital volunteer, its Outstanding Volunteer Award.
Chris Gheysens, president and CEO of Wawa, commented: “Wawa’s purpose has always been to go beyond filling customers’ orders to fulfilling lives every day, and the Wawa Volunteer Program at CHOP is a perfect example of that.
“We truly believe that each of our associates, and now each of the Wawa volunteers at CHOP, plays a special role in improving the lives of the people in our region, and to be able to give back to children and families in this way is something we’re excited to be a part of,” he said.
CHOP also dedicated a newly constructed, 1,500-square-foot Wawa Volunteer Center in its Buerger Center for Advanced Pediatric Care. Future plans made possible by The Wawa Foundation’s $5 million gift include multiple Wawa Coffee & Care Carts; an expanded CHOP hospitality and wayfinding corps; and additional volunteer programs at CHOP Care Network locations throughout the region.
Today, Wawa is also celebrating Wawa Day, marking the company’s 52nd anniversary in retail. Wawa is celebrating the occasion by offering customers free coffee of any size, chain-wide, all day. Throughout the day, Wawa expects to give away more than 1.7 million free cups of any-size coffee to customers at its more than 720 stores across its six-state operating area.
In April 1964, Wawa entered the retail business and opened its first convenience store. In April 2014, Wawa celebrated its 50th anniversary in convenience retailing and marked the milestone with the launch of The Wawa Foundation, a 501c (3) nonprofit organization founded to encompass Wawa's charitable giving. Wawa and The Wawa Foundation are committed to donating $50 million to causes supporting health, hunger and every day heroes by 2018.
In 2015, Wawa and The Wawa Foundation contributions of more than $12 million were made, and $22 million in contributions have been made since the inception of The Wawa Foundation. This year, Wawa's April 14 Wawa Day celebration gives the company the chance to toast the community, while celebrating its 52nd anniversary in retail and the second anniversary of The Wawa Foundation.
"During the anniversary week of our entrance into retail, Wawa Day provides us with a chance to connect with and honor the millions of customers who have been so integral to Wawa's growth over the past 52 years," Gheysens said.