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Wawa Foundation Funds Coast Guard Morale and Wellness Projects

Atlantic city flight crew cover image
Ron labrec web v
by Ron LaBrec
May 10, 2021

If you say the name Wawa to someone living in the Mid-Atlantic or Florida, they will likely tell you how much they love Wawa’s wide selection of coffee or fresh sandwiches. And with 900 inviting fuel and convenience stores across six states and Washington D.C., it is hard to miss their presence in those regions. But many don’t know Wawa also operates a charitable foundation focused on health, hunger and everyday heroes.

Wawa recently donated $20,000 to the Coast Guard Foundation to fund morale and wellness programs for the Coast Guard’s everyday heroes at four key locations on the East Coast.

Coast Guard units receive less than $50 per person annually from government allocations for wellness and recreation programs. Despite the physically demanding nature of Coast Guard missions, money for fitness and wellness simply cannot meet the need in many locations. The Coast Guard Foundation fills the gap by funding recreation and fitness projects at Coast Guard units, including more than 260 projects nationwide last year.


Coast Guard Foundation Check Presentation 002

”The Wawa Foundation’s generous $20,000 grant will fund recreation and wellness programs for 2,300 Coast Guard members to help them stay fit and ready while working 24 to 48-hour search and rescue shifts and other demanding schedules at Coast Guard bases,” said Coast Guard Foundation President Susan Ludwig. “We are thankful for Wawa’s partnership with the Coast Guard Foundation to support Coast Guard members who sacrifice so much to protect local communities and our nation.”

Four Coast Guard locations will benefit from the Wawa Foundation’s generosity including Atlantic City, New Jersey; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Portsmouth, Virginia; and Tampa/St. Petersburg, Florida, which all serve large populations of Coast Guard members and families.

In addition to protecting boaters and swimmers in these regions, Coast Guard members enforce maritime laws, and preserve the marine environment for the enjoyment of local citizens and those who make their living from the sea. They are also an important partner in the public safety community working with municipal and state authorities daily to serve local citizens.

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Cover photo: A flight crew from Air Station Atlantic City stands in front of an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter. U.S. Coast Guard photo.

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