Rutter’s, based in York, Pa., has long made philanthropy and community involvement a cornerstone of its business. Now led by the third and fourth generations of the Rutter family, the company is continuing to raise the bar on its tradition of supporting local charitable causes across its service areas.
CStore Decisions is honoring Rutter’s with a Philanthropy & Community Engagement Award for its strong commitment to giving back.
“With Rutter’s being a family business, we’ve always emphasized giving back to the communities we operate in,” said Suzanne Cramer, VP of human resources, Rutter’s, which operates 90 stores in Pennsylvania, Maryland and West Virginia.
Supporting children’s organizations has been a central focus for the company.
“We recognize (children are) the future of our area and generally the most vulnerable, so helping ensure they have food, clothing and education opportunities is a big part of our mission,” Cramer said.
Rutter’s Children’s Charities
Rutter’s established its own non-profit organization in 2019 when it founded Rutter’s Children’s Charities Inc. (RCC). The move demonstrates Rutter’s long-term commitment to investing in philanthropic causes that support children. RCC is guided by an independent board and is committed to supporting charitable organizations that empower and uplift the local communities in which Rutter’s operates.
“RCC was created to give us the best way to maximize the support for children in our communities,” Cramer said. RCC is funded primarily through support from Rutter’s vendors via its annual Golf Outing, which is hosted in May. The Golf Outing raised more than $950,000 in 2024. Last year, Rutter’s and RCC donated a combined $2.1 million to various impactful community programs.
“These include $800,000 in Educational Improvement Tax Credit donations; over $400,000 to the Central PA Food Bank’s Retail Donation Program; $50,000 to local youth sports leagues that help promote active, healthy lifestyles for children in the community; and a Secret Santa program giving 100 Rutter’s employees the opportunity to give $1,000 each to the charity of their choice,” Cramer explained. Secret Santa began in 2016 and has donated more than $550,000 to charity since its inception.
“This substantial commitment reflects not just corporate responsibility, but a core value of community enrichment,” Cramer said.
Instead of offering one-off donations, Rutter’s prioritizes partnerships with charitable organizations that directly benefit the communities where their stores operate, Cramer pointed out. “This ensures that giving is both targeted and meaningful, creating lasting impact,” she continued. “RCC’s independent board structure allows for thoughtful decision-making rooted in the needs of the specific regions served. This grassroots approach often leads to more effective and community-specific solutions than broader, national campaigns.”
Giving Back Matters
Convenience stores can gain a lot from supporting their local communities. In addition to the satisfaction of helping neighbors, it helps build trust with residents, enhances a c-store’s image, drives customer loyalty and helps stimulate the local economy, which in turn helps the neighborhood thrive.
“When you have the opportunity to give back to your community, where your employees and customers live, it can make a big difference that you’ll be able to see firsthand,” Cramer said.
The convenience store industry is uniquely positioned to assist local communities.
“Convenience stores are more connected to communities than almost any other type of retailer, because over 99% of Americans stop in one each year,” Cramer said. “Having a relationship with so many people, by offering them goods and services in our stores 24/7, means we can make a huge impact on the people that we see every day. We view giving back as a way to show our customers that we support them, like they support us.”
