LAKE CHARLES, La., April 26, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- CITGO Petroleum Corp. has named the Calcasieu Women's Shelter of Lake Charles, La. the latest Fueling Good Grand Prize winner in the CITGO Fueling Good program. In recognition of its work providing shelter, support, and counseling to victims of domestic and sexual violence across Southwest Louisiana, the non-profit organization has been awarded a year's supply of quality CITGO fuel and a case of CITGO motor oil.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110426/PH89704LOGO )

"The Fueling Good Grand Prize will make a significant impact on our organization and we are extremely grateful to CITGO for its support," said Kathy Williams, Executive Director of the Calcasieu Women's Shelter. "Each year, we provide assistance through housing, shelter, advocacy, and legal advice to more than 1,500 women and children from across the region. As a nonprofit organization, we are always conscious of our operational costs. Not having to worry about purchasing fuel for our support vehicles means we'll be able to put more money towards the vital services we offer women and families in need."

Since 1979, the Calcasieu Women's Shelter has been dedicated to the elimination of personal and societal violence across Southwest Louisiana. Serving the community 24-hours a day, seven days a week, the organization is committed to creating social change through empowerment and support for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault, providing safe shelter for women and children, and using educational programs to advance community awareness and understanding for the signs, causes, and solutions to domestic violence.

Helping to recognize and reward the Calcasieu Women's Shelter team were representatives of Sonia Petroleum, a Lake Charles, La.-based CITGO Marketer. Like many Marketers in the CITGO network, the Sonia Petroleum team is deeply connected to the people it serves and provides extensive support to a wide range of charity and community programs.

"It's an honor to help recognize and reward the Calcasieu Women's Shelter for its ongoing commitment to assisting domestic violence victims," said Iqbal Mohammad, owner of Sonia Petroleum. "The resources, shelter, and ongoing support it provides to women and their children is inspirational. We look forward to joining the local CITGO refinery, which has a long history of donating money, food, and time to the shelter, in the long-term support for this vital organization."

In addition to the Calcasieu Women's Shelter, the Fueling Good campaign recognized and rewarded other local heroes selected through a nationwide online vote, including the  Michigan Animal Adoption Network, a volunteer organization in Detroit that rescues and finds homes for unwanted pets, and Texas-based International Exotic Animal Sanctuary, an organization which cares for injured and abandoned exotic animals such as lions, tigers, and bears. Three individuals from New York, Pennsylvania, and Maryland also won a share in CITGO Gift Cards as part of a sweepstakes that rewarded consumers who voted for their favorite local heroes.

The Fueling Good program is designed to recognize and reward charities and individuals like the Calcasieu Women's Shelter that are improving the lives of people in their communities.  Prizes were awarded in the winter campaign to groups across the 27 states and the District of Columbia that make up the CITGO footprint. Doing good locally is a value central to CITGO and is aligned with the principles endorsed by the CITGO shareholder, Petroleos de Venezuela, S.A. (PDVSA), the national oil company of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.

For additional details on how CITGO supports a wide range of community programs across the country visit www.FuelingGood.com, Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/CITGOFuelingGood and YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/CITGOFuelingGood.

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 Corp.