Gary Dake, the president of Stewart’s Shops, which operates 327 c-stores in more than 30 counties across upstate New York and southern Vermont, is going to work a four-hour shift Friday Jan. 29 at the Stewart’s on the corner of Route 50 and Jones Road in Saratoga Springs.
The special visit by Gary is to recognize the shop for its performance during the recent Holiday Match collection. He will be working from 12-4p.m.
Stewart’s Shops’ Holiday Match program completed its 23rd year of collecting donations for local children’s charities with a record dollar amount. Stewart’s customers contributed $630,000 between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Stewart’s Shops is matching that amount, for a total of $1.26 million to be distributed to local children’s charitable organizations in Spring 2010.
“We are thrilled to have finished the drive up more than 10% from last year, set a record for Holiday Match, and to soon donate the money back into the communities we serve. Our customers, shop partners and media partners have surpassed everyone’s expectations,” said Susan Dake, Stewart’s Foundation president.
The Holiday Match program relies on customers making contributions at store locations. The money raised benefits children’s organizations directly within the communities where Stewart’s Shops are located. There are no administrative costs, and 100% of the funds collected and matched benefit the communities that have made this program so successful. After this year’s funds are distributed, more than $13 million will have been allocated since the program’s inception in 1986.
The $630,000 that Stewart’s is matching is just over one-fourth of the $2,250,000 donations budget for Stewart’s Shops in 2010. “Last year we were able to help thousands of organizations by contributing $2.25 million back into our communities. We are already seeing a high level of requests for assistance. We will continue to mirror our company theme, We are Closer to You,” Dake said.