It’s 2011 and we’re excited about the prospect of a new year with exciting programs and initiatives underway here at Wawa. But as we look to the future, I can’t help but think about the many remarkable relationships we’ve forged with our customers and our communities over the past 47 years.

I had the opportunity to reflect on one of our longest standing and dearest nonprofit partnerships when we were honored by Eden Autism Services www.edenautismservices.com, with the Friends of Eden Guardian Award at the organization’s annual Eden Dreams gala this past weekend. View details about the award and the event.  

I was truly honored to accept the award on behalf of our associates who created the magical relationship, but I’m even prouder of the impact we’ve had on so many lives through the longstanding relationship with this wonderful organization. It couldn’t be more fitting that we received the Friends of Eden award because the people who work there and the people and families who Eden supports are truly friends. They have become part of the extended Wawa family and in many cases, part of our immediate family.     

Our relationship with Eden began nearly 30 years ago when Wawa’s Joe Bendas hired an Eden student, Ari Shiner, to work in our Princeton, New Jersey store. Soon after we established and grew our supported employment program, through which Wawa now employs 25 Eden participants in 10 of our area stores. This program has since grow across our five-state region and we’ve developed relationship with dozens of supported employment agencies, employing hundreds of people in our stores. Back to Eden - we’ve also supported Eden’s role in providing treatment and training for autism through funding for Wawa House, the Eden Autism Services Early Intervention program; Eden Shores, a beach house in Cape May for adult Eden participants; and a Wawa Education & Retreat Center in Chaplin, CT.

We continue our support of Eden in 2011, not because of the awards we receive, but because of the satisfaction we get out of making a difference. And we’ll continue to do everything we can to make the lives of our customers better and to give back to the communities we serve. We’re committed to being a good neighbor and we take pride in supporting the causes our associates are most passionate about. And that won’t change no matter what year it is.

Happy New Year! 

‘Till next time…