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.”

About the American Red Cross
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides comfort to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports veterans, military members and their families. The Red Cross is a non-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to deliver its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or cruzrojaamericana.org, or follow us on social media.

About Wawa
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 freshly prepared foods, beverages, coffee, fuel services and surcharge-free ATMs. Wawa stores are located in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, Florida and Washington, D.C. The stores offer a large fresh foodservice selection, including Wawa brands such as custom prepared hoagies, freshly-brewed coffee, hot breakfast sandwiches, specialty beverages and an assortment of soups, sides and snacks. Forbes.com Ranks Wawa as #23 of America’s Largest Private Companies in 2020. For more information, visit us on www.wawa.com or follow us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram at @wawa

About The Wawa Foundation
The Wawa Foundation is an extension of Wawa’s commitment to making the world a better place by fulfilling customers’ lives every day. The Wawa Foundation is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation founded by Wawa, Inc. to support the company’s charitable giving and philanthropic activities – and ultimately to help build happier, stronger communities.  The Wawa Foundation focuses its support on organizations committed to health, hunger and everyday heroes through local, regional and national grants and / or in-store fundraising, through donation boxes and point-of-purchase scan materials.

About the NACS Foundation
NACS Foundation is the 501(c)3 charitable arm of NACS, the global industry association dedicated to advancing convenience and fuel retailing. In partnership with fuel retail, convenience and suppliers across the U.S., the NACS Foundation propels brighter futures by unifying and amplifying the philanthropic and charitable activities of the industry in communities across America. To learn more, visit conveniencecares.org, or visit us on Facebook at @TheNACSFoundation and Twitter at @NACS_Foundation.