Wawa’s SWOOP Shake Returns to Stores to Help Raise Autism Awareness
Back by popular demand, Wawa’s “SWOOP Shake” is returning to Philadelphia stores today with Wawa making a $5,000 contribution to the Eagles Autism Foundation in honor of the specialty beverage. Made with vanilla soft serve, mint flavor, whipped cream, and Eagles green jimmies, the SWOOP Shake will be available for a limited time through Sunday, May 22, 2022.
“After making its debut last summer and seeing the incredible response from fans and customers alike, we are excited to announce the SWOOP Shake has returned to Philadelphia Wawa stores,” said Ryan Hammond, Executive Director, Eagles Autism Foundation. “Wawa has been with us from the very beginning supporting our mission and serving as a devoted advocate for the autism community. We are truly grateful for their commitment and thankful for opportunities like this when we can collaborate on creative ideas and concepts with our partners that engage the community and help to advance autism research in the process.”
The SWOOP Shake returns at an exciting time with the fifth annual Eagles Autism Challenge taking place on Saturday, May 21, 2022. Wawa has been a longstanding partner of the team’s largest annual fundraiser and sponsors the signature event’s cycling routes – Wawa Junior 10-Mile Ride, Wawa Shorti 30-Mile Ride, and Wawa Classic 50-Mile Ride. Wawa has continuously increased its support over the years, which has included Team Goose Pride consistently serving as one of the top fundraising teams for the Eagles Autism Challenge.
“Wawa is proud to continue its support of the Eagles Autism Foundation with the return of its limited-edition ‘SWOOP Shake’ beverage to drive awareness and funds for the important work the team is doing to support the autism community,” said Alex Costabile, Chief Customer Officer, Wawa. “While the beverage is sure to satisfy one’s sweet tooth, we hope it provides our customers with even more satisfaction knowing that together, we are helping advance research and programming for individuals with autism.”
The Eagles Autism Challenge presented by Lincoln Financial Group is a one-day bike ride and family-friendly 5K run/walk that starts and finishes at Lincoln Financial Field. The event features three cycling routes, the FreedomPay 5K Run/Walk, the FreedomPay Sensory Walk, and a virtual participant option for those unable to ride, run, or walk on event day. The Eagles Autism Challenge, which started with Eagles Chairman and CEO Jeffrey Lurie’s vision to bring people together to support the autism community, has raised more than $12 million for cutting-edge autism research and programming. A total of 56 research projects and community grants have been funded through the Eagles Autism Foundation to assist individuals and families affected by autism.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that one in 44 people living in the United States are on the autism spectrum. Autism is a complex neurological and developmental condition that expresses itself differently in each individual. The spectrum can range from having challenges in the areas of social skills and nonverbal communication to repetitive interests and behaviors. While it has become one of the fastest-growing developmental disorders in the country, it has historically been underfunded, misunderstood, and under-researched.
