Irving Oil’s Fuel the Care program celebrates milestone anniversaries with partner hospitals as it continues to bridge gap between home and hospital for thousands of families each year
Saint John, NB – For 23 years, Irving Oil has been proud to provide fuel gift cards to families travelling to receive medical care for their child as part of the company’s flagship community giving program, Fuel the Care.
Through its partnerships with nine hospitals across Atlantic Canada, Quebec, New England and Ireland, Irving Oil’s Fuel the Care program has supported more than 120,000 families at a time when it is needed the most. With more than $6.8 million invested in the program since 2002, Fuel the Care helps to ease the financial strain on parents and caregivers requiring travel to access health services for children.
“We are extremely thankful for the continued support of our loyal customers in all of our geographic markets who help us to Fuel the Care for thousands of families each year,” says Irving Oil President & CEO Jeff Matthews. “Fuel the Care wouldn’t be possible without the amazing support of our dedicated employees, who year after year champion this program in the regions where we operate.”
Parents Jean and Craig of Saint John say they are thankful for the Fuel the Care program, as they required many four-hour trips to the IWK Health Centre in Halifax, NS, to access medical appointments for their son Logan, now 18.
Born with Pfeiffer syndrome 18 years ago, which causes premature fusion of the skull, Logan required multiple surgeries on his head and face, the first of which took place when he was four months old.
“The social workers knew we’d be travelling often for Logan’s care — which also meant I’d be out of work,” says Jean. “Fuel the Care has helped us immensely over the years.”
Celebrating 20 years of partnership this year, the Saint John Regional Hospital is one of nine partner hospitals participating in Fuel the Care.
“We are truly grateful for our longstanding partnership with Irving Oil and the Fuel the Care program,” says Shannon Hunter, President & CEO, Saint John Regional Hospital Foundation. “Every day, we see firsthand the difference this initiative makes for patients and their loved ones. By easing the burden of travel for families in their time of need, Irving Oil helps ensure that the focus can remain where it matters most, on care and healing.”
Celebrating 10 years of partnership in Fuel the Care, Tufts Medical Center in Boston, MA, experienced the highest demand for program support of all partner hospitals in 2024, with 1,945 families supported through the program.
“Thanks to the incredible generosity of Irving Oil, so many of our patients can focus on supporting loved ones and healing instead of the stress of getting to their next appointment,” says Terry Hudson-Jinks, Chief Nursing Officer, Chief Experience Officer and Senior Vice President of Patient Care Services at Tufts Medical Center.
Fuel the Care Day is a meaningful tradition for Irving Oil employees, a time to thank customers for supporting program by choosing Irving Oil. Every time a customer visits an Irving Oil location, selects Irving Energy to heat their home or enjoys a homestyle meal at an Irving Big Stop Restaurant, they help to support the Fuel the Care program, giving families a lift when they need it most. Similarly, in Ireland, every time a customer visits a Top Oil location, chooses Top Oil to heat their home or visits one of the company-owned stores for their needs, they are helping local families.
Irving Oil will celebrate Fuel the Care Day on Thursday, September 25, with employees at select retail sites in Canada, the U.S. and Ireland, thanking customers for supporting the program by choosing Irving Oil.
Fuel the Care initiatives:
- Offering free parking to visitors at the Saint John Regional Hospital in Saint John, NB; the Janeway Child Health and Rehabilitation Centre, in St. John’s, NL; and Children’s Health Ireland at Crumlin in Dublin, on Wednesday, September 24.
- Distributing craft supplies to pediatric patients at partner hospitals.
- Customer appreciation events at 18 retail sites across the Irving Oil network on Fuel the Care Day, Thursday, September 25.
Customers can also support Fuel the Care directly, by using dedicated “Care Pumps” that have been set up at various retail locations.
Care Pumps:
Halifax: One cent from every litre purchased at designated pumps throughout the Halifax Regional Municipality in Nova Scotia is donated to the IWK Foundation to support families travelling to receive medical care for their child.
Pembroke: Four cents from every gallon purchased at the Fuel the Care Pump at The Irving in Pembroke, Massachusetts, is donated to Tufts Medical Center to support families travelling to receive medical care for their child.
Ireland: One cent from every litre purchased at Care Pumps in Ballina, Kilkenny, Newhall and Cobh Cross is directly donated to the Children’s Health Foundation.
Fuel the Care partner hospitals:
• Nova Scotia: The IWK Health Centre
• Newfoundland & Labrador: Janeway Child Health and Rehabilitation Centre
• New Brunswick: Saint John Regional Hospital
• Quebec: Centre mère-enfant Soleil du CHU de Québec-Université Laval
• Maine: Northern Light Health
• New Hampshire: The Children's Hospital at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center
• Massachusetts: Tufts Medical Center, Mass General Brigham for Children
• Ireland: Children’s Health Ireland at Crumlin,Children’s Health Ireland at Temple Street, Children’s Health Ireland at Tallaght, Children’s Health Ireland at Connolly.
For more information, visit Irving Oil and Top Oil’s social media channels or visit fuelthecare.ca.
Irving Oil:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/irvingoil
Instagram: @irving_oil
Top Oil:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TOPOilFuelingIreland
Instagram: @topoil_fueling_ireland
About Irving Oil:
Irving Oil is a privately held international energy company. For more than 100 years, our commitment to doing good business has been grounded in our commitment to people – to our employees, customers, communities and partners. Founded in 1924, our mission is focused on our continued evolution to meet the changing needs of our customers. Specializing in the refining and marketing of finished energy products, we operate Canada’s largest refinery in Saint John, New Brunswick, and Ireland’s only refinery located in the village of Whitegate. We proudly serve customers with more than 1,000 fuelling locations and a network of distribution terminals spanning Eastern Canada, New England and in Ireland, operating under the Top brand. Named one of Canada’s Top 100 Employers for nine consecutive years, we are proud of our team and our longstanding commitment to our customers and our communities. Learn more at www.irvingoil.com.
Media contact:
Katherine d’Entremont
[email protected]
506.654.7162