Breakthrough T1D is Wawa’s longest-standing partnership. Since 1994, the popular convenience store chain has raised millions of dollars for type 1 diabetes (T1D) research through in-store fundraising campaigns at more than 1,060 locations across the Eastern U.S.
Wawa’s partnership with Breakthrough T1D is further enhanced by donations from The Wawa Foundation, which is committed to helping Breakthrough T1D create a world without T1D and building strong communities by supporting causes related to health, hunger, and everyday heroes.
Wawa’s 2025 fundraising campaign for Breakthrough T1D runs from July 31 to August 20. Customers can donate $1, $3, or $5 or round up at checkout to support life-changing breakthroughs for people living with T1D.
Wawa lives out the values it speaks to
Wawa super fan, Nate Keeney, has lived with T1D for 27 years. He is proud to support a company that lives out the values it speaks to.
“Long before working at Breakthrough T1D, I loved Wawa for their larger selection of food options and snacks,” Nate said. “I always knew they partnered with the organization, but seeing how their efforts impact everyone living with T1D has given me a renewed passion to continue supporting Wawa.”
Wawa walks to cure T1D
Breakthrough T1D Walk is another way Wawa helps support the T1D community and fund critical T1D research. The Wawa Foundation matches employee Walk fundraising efforts up to $100.
Wawa associates also volunteer at Walk events to distribute in-kind food and beverages to participants.
“I see Wawa everywhere at our local Breakthrough T1D Walk in Philadelphia, with their classic soft pretzels and iced teas (and diet iced teas!) to fuel us as we walk to support T1D research and community,” Nate said. “The Goose also leads the T1D parade before the Walk begins.”
Wawa helps fuel life-changing research
Wawa helps Breakthrough T1D advance its mission to accelerate life-changing breakthroughs to cure, prevent, and treat type 1 diabetes and its complications.
That includes technology like continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) and automated insulin delivery (AID) systems, which have been life-changing for Nate.
“My insulin pump and CGM have been a wonderful addition to my diabetes routine—they’ve helped me get my A1c into a great range and identify trends,” he said. “Also, the ability to manage my T1D from my phone has made life on the go easier, whether it’s traveling for work or traveling for fun to different states or countries.”
Wawa’s support also fuels research in cures for type 1 diabetes. Cell therapies that insert healthy insulin-producing cells into people with T1D with minimal or no immunosuppression is a breakthrough Nate is hopeful for.
“So much effort, intensity, and care are going into funding research, particularly with cell therapies,” he said. “It makes me hopeful for cures within my lifetime.”
Together, Wawa and Breakthrough T1D are championing life-changing research and strengthening the T1D community.
