Bess The Book Bus And CITGO Promote Literacy In Indiana

BLOOMINGTON, Ind., July 9, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Mobile literacy program and CITGO Fueling Good winner Bess the Book Bus continued its national tour with stops across Indiana in May. Bess, with support from local CITGO Marketers Freedom Oil Company and C&S Inc., delivered free books and promoted childhood literacy by reading aloud to pre-K and kindergarten students in Bloomington and Warsaw. More than 100 free books were given to the children who participated in the events.

Bess the Book Bus was joined by Miss Huntington Alli Harris for its first stop in Indiana on May 16 at the Kosciusko Community YMCA in Warsaw where students received free books and participated in the read aloud event. Frances and her team then traveled to Bloomington on May 17 where they met Miss Indiana Terrin Thomas for a stop at the Bloomington YMCA to deliver more than 100 books to the children in the community.

The stops in Indiana were the last leg of a two-week tour across the Midwest for Bess the Book Bus. Frances and her network of volunteers moved from Wisconsin through Illinois and Indiana and finished the final stops of their tour with a trip to Detroit on May 23, providing more than 10,000 books to children along the way.

"We had such a wonderful time meeting with the children at the YMCA events," said Frances. "We love encouraging an interest in reading in the youth of these communities and we appreciate the support of our sponsors like CITGO who enable us to bring the joy of reading to kids across the country and here in Indiana. We are honored to be invited back each year and we hope to continue this tradition for years to come."

Founded in 2002, Bess the Book Bus' mission is to promote literacy and provide underserved children with access to new and engaging books for them to keep. Frances has grown the program into one of the nation's most innovative mobile literacy initiatives. Each year, she and her network of volunteers take Bess the Book Bus directly to communities in need to read to children and provide what, for many youngsters, is their first new book. Through support from CITGO and other corporate sponsors, Bess the Book Bus has covered more than 48 states, supported more than 60,000 families and donated more than 450,000 books since 2002.

For stories from Bess the Book Bus' 2014 tour, including a travel diary and photos from events across the country, visit http://bessthebookbus.org/. To learn how CITGO and local organizations like Bess the Book Bus are making a difference in communities throughout the United States, visit www.FuelingGood.com. To join the conversation, "Like" CITGO Fueling Good on Facebook, "Follow" on Twitter and Instagram, and view videos of past winners at http://www.youtube.com/CITGOFuelingGood/.

About CITGO Petroleum
Based in Houston, CITGO 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.

About Bess the Book Bus
Bess the Book Bus is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization committed to extending literacy across the country. Run by Jennifer Frances of Tampa, Fla., the organization visits local communities across the country in a specially designed "book bus," coordinating reading events and providing children with a free, new book for them to keep. For more information, visit www.bessthebookbus.org.

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140708/125405

SOURCE CITGO