Bellman Oil Raises More Than $24,000 For MDA In Golf Tournament

NORTH LIBERTY, Ind., July 26, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Bellman Oil teamed up with CITGO Petroleum Corporation and members of the North Liberty community to raise more than $24,000 for children affected by neuromuscular disease at the 22^nd Annual Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) Golf Tournament at Whispering Pines golf course on June 19, 2012. One hundred thirty golfers joined together to break all fundraising goals for the event, topping last year's totals by $1,000 and bringing Bellman Oil's MDA fundraising total to more than $35,000 so far this year.

"It has been such a joy to do this great work with CITGO for the past 22 years," said Tom Fair, accounts manager at Bellman Oil. "We are so grateful for all of the continued support we've received from our partners, sponsors and supporters. Muscular dystrophy awareness is a cause that is near and dear to our hearts, and it is so wonderful that we are able to make an impact on those affected by the disease within our local community."

With the support of CITGO and approximately 40 additional corporate sponsors, the MDA golf event generated more funds than any of the past 21 tournaments. John Niespodziany, the owner and golf pro at Whispering Pines, hosted the tournament for the 22^nd consecutive year. All of the proceeds will go directly toward the support and well-being of families within the Northern Indiana area who are coping with neuromuscular disease by providing access to MDA clinics, follow-up care, support groups and summer camps.

"After supporting Bellman Oil in this effort for almost a quarter of a century, CITGO is truly honored to be a part of the cause," said Alan Flagg, general manager light oils marketing for CITGO. "It's amazing that, even during these tough economic times, so many people are willing to join together to help those in need. MDA is a very important cause to CITGO, and it means a lot that we are able to work closely with Bellman Oil to assist those affected families in Indiana."

In addition to the golf tournament, Bellman Oil has hosted two more fundraising programs this year to benefit MDA. On June 16, 2012, community members participated in the eighth annual 5K "Spud Run" and "Fun Walk" at the Potato Creek Festival, which raised a combined total of approximately $6,000. Fourteen Bellman Oil retail locations throughout Northern Indiana participated in the sale of paper MDA Shamrocks between February and March, raising a record $5,628.Together with the golf tournament proceeds, these three events raised more than $35,000 for MDA.

CITGO is committed to giving back to the local communities it serves through its network of locally owned stations. CITGO Marketers and Retailers in Indiana own and operate more than 95 CITGO locations and are proud to support their communities. For more information on the positive impact of the locally owned CITGO stations, visit www.CITGO.com.

CITGO is the largest corporate sponsor of the Muscular Dystrophy Association, having raised more than $140 million since 1986. CITGO employees regularly participate in MDA fundraising events and are joined by the network of nearly 6,000 locally owned CITGO locations that raise money through programs like Shamrock sales and golf tournaments.

CITGO, based in Houston, is a refiner, transporter and marketer of transportation fuels, lubricants, petrochemicals and other industrial products. The company is owned by PDV America, Inc., an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Petroleos de Venezuela, S.A., the national oil company of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. For more information, visit www.CITGO.com.

SOURCE CITGO Petroleum