WAWA, Pa. & WESTLAKE, Ohio—The Wawa Foundation announced nonprofits can now apply for assistance from its Breast Cancer Awareness Fund, formed to provide financial assistance to local nonprofits helping patients and families meet basic needs during active breast cancer treatment, as well as to organizations advancing prevention methods, providing treatment or performing research.

The Breast Cancer Awareness Fund is a Wawa Foundation key issue fund established in 2021, with $200,000 in grants available this year for qualified nonprofit organizations. The fund marks the importance of Breast Cancer Awareness month this October and highlights The Wawa Foundation’s ongoing support of causes related to those impacted by breast cancer. Applications will be accepted through October31, with funding awarded and distributed on November 15.

"The Wawa Foundation launched the Breast Cancer Awareness Fund in 2021 and proudly awarded grants to 38 eligible organizations across our operating areas,” said Jay Culotta, president of The Wawa Foundation. “Our associates remain passionate about helping those in the community impacted by breast cancer and we’re thrilled to earmark dollars again to support nonprofits providing support to this important cause.”

Interested nonprofit organizations with the core purpose of helping patients and families meet basic needs during active breast cancer treatment and/or advancing prevention methods, providing access to treatment or performing research related to breast cancer can apply at www.thewawafoundation.org.

The Wawa Foundation is accepting applications through October 31 and will be reviewing requests the first two weeks of November, with approvals being communicated either through a call or via email. Submitting an application does not guarantee funding.

To officially kick-off the second year of the Fund, Wawa and The Wawa Foundation extended appreciation to the Women’s Imaging Center team at Pennsylvania Hospital on Thursday, October 6, with a check presentation to help support the Penn Medicine Mammogram vehicle that will provide screening services to underserved communities in the Philadelphia region.

The Wawa Foundation identifies key issues in need of focus and funding, while remaining open to other general requests. A recent key issues for the foundation included its COVID Emergency Food Distribution Fund. Key issue grants have start/end dates, and generally range from $1,000 to $10,000, with some larger grants available.

Breast cancer support and research has always been a key issue for The Wawa Foundation, and The Wawa Foundation Breast Cancer Awareness Fund is launching during Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Meanwhile, dozens of TravelCenters of America team members, their family and friends supported the fight against breast cancer by attending the American Cancer Society's (ACS) Making Strides Against Breast Cancer fundraiser/walk in Cleveland, Ohio, last Saturday, October 1.

TA was a $2,500 Bronze Sponsor of the event, and Team TA will be fundraising throughout the month of October for the ACS.