The Wawa Foundation recently awarded 33 Fly Beyond Key Issue Grants, each aimed at providing youth with increased access to more nutritious meal and snack options through school or community-based programs.
Fly Beyond Key Issue Grants typically range between $5,000 and $250,000 and have been awarded to qualified partners with new or existing programs that are aligned with this goal. This year in total, The Wawa Foundation is awarding $1.5 million in Fly Beyond Key Issue Grants to these food bank partners.
Nonprofit community partners, who are part of the Feeding America food bank network, and current or future Check-Out Hunger food bank partners of The Wawa Foundation were invited to apply for Fly Beyond Key Issue Grants earlier this year.
The Wawa Foundation reviewed proposals and awarded grants based on Fly Beyond criteria and goals, program reach and impact and the size of the Wawa market served.
“The Fly Beyond Key Issue Grant initiative reflects our continuing effort to fight food insecurity, particularly among youth in our communities, by ensuring consistent access to healthy and nutritious foods,” said Liz Simeone, President of The Wawa Foundation. “This year, we’re proud to support more food banks than ever before as we remain committed to building strong relationships with communities in Wawa’s existing and new markets, such as the Midwest. Through these partnerships, we aim to help more youth thrive through better nutrition.”
This year’s Fly Beyond Key Issue Grant recipients support communities in 12 states — Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky.
In 2024, Fly Beyond Key Issue Grant recipients went on to serve than 7 million meals across their communities.
The Wawa Foundation is a registered non-profit corporation founded by Wawa, Inc. to support the company’s charitable giving and philanthropic activities. The foundation focuses its support on organizations committed to health, hunger and everyday heroes through local, regional and national grants and in-kind donations. Since 2014, Wawa and The Wawa Foundation have donated more than $182 million to causes supporting health, hunger and the heroes who serve its communities every day.
