Charitable organizations in and around Sarnia-Lambton received donations Friday from a fuel supply company celebrating a milestone.
Dowler-Karn, in partnership with the ESSO Community Program, marked its 75th anniversary by giving $127,500 to 48 area organizations.
Chief Financial Officer Dan Kelly said the donation is part of a greater effort by the company to give back to the several communities they reside in.
"We've always felt not an obligation, but it's always been something we felt was important to give back to the communities in which we've been successful and where we've been able to work, and also supporting our employees who work and live and play in these communities."
Kelly said the money from the Fueling Communities Give-Away is supporting a wide-variety of groups that have already made a big impact for those in need.
"We have charities that cover everything from those that are doing preservation societies for communities, we have animal protection charities, we have Community Living and Special Olympics, all sorts of different charities, which is what we were hoping for," he said.
Kelly said originally they were planning to donate $75,000, but that increased to $127,500 after an overwhelming response to their give-away. A total of 161 projects applied for funding.
The individual donations range from $500 to $10,000.
The St. Thomas-based company began operations in 1943, and opened its Plank Road location in Sarnia in 1994.
Organizations on hand to accept their donation Friday:
- Bluewater Health Foundation
- Community Living Sarnia-Lambton
- Special Olympics Sarnia
- Youth Opportunities Unlimited
- Pathways Health Centre for Children
- Sacred Heart Food Bank
- 2884 Engineers Royal Canadian Army Cadet Corp
- Strathroy-Caradoc Dog Park
- Celebration of Light Inc. (Corunna)