Last week, as the snow finally began to clear, all we could talk about was summer time at Wawa.  It wasn’t because this frigid weather was making us all dream of 90 degree temperatures, but because on Friday I joined Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter, in announcing that Wawa will be the new title sponsor of the city’s Welcome America! summer event. 

Welcome America! has become an integral part of Philadelphians lives just as Wawa has for all of our loyal customers.  Every summer Welcome America! attracts thousands of visitors to Philadelphia to celebrate the Fourth of July. Through Welcome America!, the city of Philadelphia takes center stage welcoming all of these visitors to partake in historical, cultural, and family entertainment.  And let’s not forget, it features the largest free concert in America with premier musical headliners! 

All of us at Wawa are thrilled to be hosting this event, not only because it’s a fun and exciting way to celebrate the Fourth of July, but because we have roots that travel deep both within the city of Philadelphia and within the Welcome America! festivities, that make this collaboration extremely fitting and meaningful. 

Back in 1996, we were one of the participants of the inaugural Welcome America! event, and for many years our Hoagie Day was a featured event during Welcome America!.  We built hoagies in excess of two miles, even surrounding City Hall at one point.

We are proud to return to this great celebration and to expand our involvement through a commitment for the next three years.  More than anything we are proud to further the longstanding relationship that exists between the City of Philadelphia and Wawa.   In January I wrote about Operation Brotherly Love, http://www.wawa.com/Blog/category/Community.aspx, a carnival spreading holiday joy to children, which we held in conjunction with the Mayor’s Office of Community Services.   Just like Operation Brotherly Love, our involvement in Welcome America! is our way of giving back to the community, while adding fun, patriotism and hometown pride to our region. 

Thank you to the City of Philadelphia for always welcoming us with open arms.  We are thrilled to say, “Wawa Welcome America!”
 
‘Till next time…

http://www.montgomerynews.com/articles/2010/02/09/roxborough_review/news/doc4b71a3e37efcd330056523.txt

http://www.kyw1060.com/Wawa-Will-Welcome-America/6351322

http://www.delcotimes.com/articles/2010/02/13/business/doc4b7673fb03e9a881715691.txt
http://www.philly.com/philly/news/local/84290157.html
http://www.philly.com/philly/hp/news_update/84290482.html

http://www.bizjournals.com/philadelphia/stories/2010/02/15/daily6.html
http://www.montgomerynews.com/articles/2010/02/18/roxborough_review/news/doc4b7aed9ccc27d015434315.txt