The National Coalition of Associations of 7-Eleven Franchisees boosts charitable funding.
By John Lofstock, Editor.
As part of its ongoing commitment to charitable causes, the National Coalition of Associations of 7-Eleven Franchisees (NCASEF) helped raise nearly $750,000 this year for two of its charitable partners, Hire Heroes USA and the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA).
Hire Heroes is a nonprofit organization offering transition assistance, job search assistance and job placement services to those veterans injured or disabled in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, and MDA is a nonprofit health agency dedicated to curing muscular dystrophy, ALS and related diseases.
During its most successful convention in its 36-year history last month in Las Vegas, the coalition presented Hire Heroes leadership with a check for $310,000 to support the organization’s transition assistance workshops run at military installations.
“Our ability to give back to these important programs is something that makes each and every member of our 7-Eleven franchisee family very proud,” said Bruce Maples, chairman of NCASEF. “Committing ourselves to supporting both our military veterans and those individuals and families who have been touched by neuromuscular disease represents the great American tradition of generosity that our owners, their employees, our vendors and our customers are known for.”
Vendors Step Up
NCASEF, which is the national trade group for 7-Eleven storeowners in the U.S., represents the interests of 4,900 franchise-owned stores and their membership organizations, which employ nearly 40,000 workers.
In concert with 7-Eleven Inc. and nine vendor partners, the National Coalition and its 36 Franchise Owners’ Associations raised funds through sales of specific products offered by brand-name companies, which donated a portion of each sale for the program.
Participating companies included Nestlé USA, Anheuser-Busch InBev, MillerCoors, E. & J. Gallo Winery, the Dr Pepper-Snapple Group, Tropicana Products Inc., Mars Inc., The Kellogg Co. and Kraft Foods Inc.
Fees from the coalition’s annual Joe Saraceno Memorial Golf Tournament, and donations made from the public, also contributed to the total. This donation was the second in a three-year commitment to Hire Heroes, and the largest single-year contribution made to Hire Heroes by the coalition.
NCASEF also presented MDA with a check for $420,000, representing funds raised through a national store-based canister program supported by 7-Eleven Inc., as well as live and silent auctions at the coalition’s annual convention.
The contribution is a manifestation of a long-term partnership between the MDA, the coalition, its Franchise Owners’ Associations, individual franchisees and 7-Eleven.
Focusing Forward
The coalition’s 36th annual national convention in Las Vegas brought in record numbers of franchise owners and exhibitors. Preparations are now underway for the 37th annual convention, which will be held in July 2012 in Honolulu.