Newly named Foster Foundation reaches milestone

Foster Fuels’ philanthropic arm, formerly known as the Watt Foster Family Foundation, has rebranded as the Foster Foundation.

According to the company, this evolution comes as the foundation marks a significant milestone. It has collected 5,518 coats for distribution in its annual “Spread the Warmth” campaign, underscoring its commitment to serving women, children and veterans’ organizations via multiple partnerships within the communities it serves.

Watt Foster and Jennifer Bryant-Foster, along with the foundation board, which includes Watt’s daughter Katie Foster-Rolfe, have steered the foundation’s growth and engagement initiatives since its inception in 2018.

“We’re excited to unveil the name ‘Foster Foundation’ because it reflects the growth from a passion project of our family to a full-scale, company-wide commitment to volunteerism and service within our community,” says Watt Foster, president of Foster Fuels.

The Foster Foundation’s 2023 “Spread the Warmth” campaign, the company says, celebrates a union of efforts between Foster Fuels employees and the foundation’s mission.

“Our journey to 5,518 coats in this year’s ‘Spread the Warmth’ campaign is a testament to the collective efforts of our employees, our valuable community partners and the foundation’s alignment with our brand’s ethos of going further to make a meaningful difference,” Watt Foster says.

The Foster Foundation continues to expand its outreach and impact, crediting each Foster Fuels employee with an annual paid day of volunteerism and $1,000 charitable contributions to the local organization of choice on behalf of each employee completing 101 volunteer hours in a calendar year, the company explains. The rebranding signifies an evolution in the foundation’s reach, aiming to amplify its effectiveness in addressing the diverse needs of communities across central Virginia.

Foster Fuels is a third-generation family-owned and -operated business headquartered in Brookneal, Virginia. It serves customers in all U.S. regions and internationally. It ranked 35th on LP Gas’ 2023 list of the largest propane retailers in the U.S.