Our actions are based on the principle of sustainability to achieve meaningful improvements and long-lasting change. To ensure our investments have the greatest impact, we collaborate with strategic partners through sponsorships, in-kind product donations and The Sunoco Foundation.

In 2008, Sunoco contributed nearly $4 million dollars to the region through direct corporate giving. A combination of cash contributions, in-kind product donations and tax credits available to the corporation are invested in our communities to achieve maximum impact. Included in this is our sponsorship of Sunoco Welcome America, now in its 15th year, and our matching dollars for employee contributions to the annual United Way of Southeastern Pennsylvania campaign.

Through Sunoco’s Delaware Valley Energy Assistance Program, we donated approximately $1 million dollars worth of fuel through in-kind and cash donations to local agencies such as Philabundance and the American Red Cross.  Additionally, Sunoco donates home heating oil to residents of the Delaware Valley who qualify for the Federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). The LIHEAP program is administered through existing social service agencies. Over 1,000 low income families in the region received home heating oil assistance provided by Sunoco Home Comfort Services.

In support of Sunoco’s educational initiatives, two significant grants were awarded this year.  A $1 million dollar grant was given to the Salvation Army Ray & Joan Kroc Corps Community Center in North Philadelphia. When completed in 2010, the Salvation Army Kroc Center will be home to the Sunoco Foundation Learning Center which will provide after-school education and enrichment programs to children and teens.  With nearly 35 percent of North Philadelphia residents living below poverty level and more than 65 percent being single parent homes, the Center is expected to serve between 750-1,000 people per day. 

Delaware County Community College, which has a long and proud history with Sunoco, received a $500,000 grant from The Sunoco Foundation in support of a Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Complex on its main campus in Marple Township. The College is in the forefront of a national movement to create a career path for students in science, technology, engineering and mathematics that provides access to high-skill, high-paying jobs. The Foundation’s investment in educational programs is part of a number of statewide STEM initiatives that respond to regional workforce demands.

United Way Tradition
In 2008, Sunoco and its employees helped raise over $1.44 million for United Way of Southeastern Pennsylvania (UWSEPA), making Sunoco one of the region’s top corporate contributors among area companies. United Way of Southeastern Pennsylvania will continue to target its focus on three key areas that are crucial to a stable, healthy and vibrant society: preparing children and youth to succeed in school and in life; building financial stability and independence for families; and keeping seniors healthy and safe at home.

Company-wide contributions to United Way totaled over $2.95 million (including the abovementioned UWSEPA contribution).

The Sunoco Foundation made a generous donation to the Memorial Hermann Life Flight organization to support upgrading the air ambulance emergency system. Life Flight is the primary emergency service provider for Harris County, TX. The donation helped provide new equipment and add a fifth fully-manned Life Flight facility to provide service to eastern Harris County, which is where both the La Porte and Bayport facilities are located.

In addition to the above, below are some of the organizations supported during 2008 in the various areas where we are located:

• Toledo (Ohio) Area
  American Red Cross Youth Education (fire safety/prevention and CPR), Partners for Clean Streams and Toledo Metropolitan Area Council of Governments Student Watershed Watch, Engineer for a Day Sponsor, Toledo Museum of Art, Urban League of Greater Toledo, YMCA Scholarship Fund, East Toledo Family Center, The Toledo Symphony, East Toledo Kindergarten Enrichment Program, Toledo Zoo Education Fund and the PBS "Ready to Read."

• Bayport/La Porte (Texas) Area 
  Pasadena Independent School District Robotics program, Pasadena Rodeo (educational scholarships), La Porte Education Foundation, Baytown FFA 4H Youth Fair (educational scholarships), Texas Scholars (a classroom teaching and recognition program), Partners in Education, Bayshore-La Porte Chamber of Commerce Salute to Industry, and City of La Porte E-merge System (community emergency communication system). In Deer Park, 2008 was the ninth consecutive year that Sunoco has supported the Deer Park Industrial Honors Banquet recognizing high school students with outstanding academic achievement. Sunoco also sits on the Deer Park Education Foundation Board.

• Tulsa (Oklahoma) Area 
  Metropolitan Environmental Trust, Youth Services of Tulsa, River Parks Authority, John 3:16, Goodwill Industries of Tulsa, Clinton Middle School, Junior Achievement of Eastern Oklahoma, Tulsa Area Clean Cities, Redfork Main Street, Chandler Park, Crosbie Heights Neighborhood and Southwest Tulsa Chamber of Commerce.

• Haverhill (Ohio) and Neal (West Virginia) Area
  American Red Cross, Green Township Fire Department, Green School and Community Foundation, Simon Kenton Boy Scout Council, Shawnee State University, Red Cross, Huntington Museum of Art, Our Lady of Bellefonte Hospital (Horizon of Hope Program), 4H for Scioto (OH) and Greenup (KY) counties, and Green (OH) Independent School District (purchase library books).

• Knoxville(Tennessee) Area
  American Cancer Society, American Red Cross, Kids on the Block of Knoxville, Habitat for Humanity, 100 Black Men of Greater Knoxville, Joy of Music, Thompson Cancer Survival Center, SOAR Youth Ministries, Knoxville Museum of Art, Autism Society of America, University of Tennessee and the United Way of Greater Knoxville.

• East Chicago (Indiana) Area
  American Heart Association, American Red Cross, Haven House, Healthy East Chicago, Juvenile Diabetes Foundation, Lake Area United Way, Sickle Cell Foundation and the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

• Vansant, (Virginia) Area
  Appalachian School of Law, Buchanan County YMCA, Community Arts Council, Bluefield College, Buchanan County Special Olympics, Richlands Recreation Center, Richlands Rescue Squad, Richlands Library, Mountain Mission School, Southwest Virginia Community College and the Tri-County Health Center.