CITGO Corner Marts Raise More Than $20,000 For Local Children in Need

GREENVILLE, S.C., April 29 /PRNewswire/ -- Employees at the 31 CITGO Corner Mart stores across South Carolina have rallied their customers, suppliers, and communities to raise $20,000 for the local chapter of the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA). Employees smashed last year's fundraising results by more than $8,000 through paper shamrock sales and other in-store fundraising efforts. All of the money raised will stay in South Carolina to support children and families touched by neuromuscular disease through programs such as MDA summer camps.

"The outpouring of support provided this year by our customers and employees is truly amazing," said Kenneth Cosgrove, marketing manager with CITGO Corner Mart operator Piedmont Petroleum. "Each year, we challenge ourselves to help as many children as possible in support of the Muscular Dystrophy Association, an organization which makes a huge impact on the lives of our neighbors, customers, and friends. All of the $20,000 raised will stay in our community to help local families, underlining our commitment to the great state of South Carolina."

The money was raised by customers of CITGO Corner Mart stores, who bought shamrocks during the annual MDA Shamrocks Against Dystrophy program. Four CITGO Corner Mart stores also went over and above to raise more than $1,000 each through bake sales, change collections, and an ongoing commitment to inspire their community to help local children in need.

"We know these families and we know how much they appreciate the services of our local MDA Chapter," said Angela Bennett, manager of the CITGO Corner Mart at 2608 Woodruff Road in Simpsonville, S.C. that raised more than $2,000. "It is great to see how our customers really want to help kids be kids and forget -- even just for a week -- some of the challenges they face every day."

The money raised this year will support the Greenville chapter of the Muscular Dystrophy Association. Their local summer camp, Camp Bethelwoods in York, S.C., provides children with debilitating diseases the joys and adventures that most take for granted. Through the CITGO Corner Mart fundraising, enough money was raised to send 25 children to camp this summer. In South Carolina and across the country, MDA is dedicated to providing support, counseling, treatment and research into neuromuscular diseases.

"The efforts of Piedmont Petroleum and the CITGO Corner Mart team makes a huge impact on our program and allows us to reach more families across the community," said Tonya Lambrecht, executive director with the Greenville, S.C. MDA chapter. "Raising money to send children to our MDA summer camp this year will create once-in-a-lifetime experiences for 25 local children and their families. For that, and the continued support of our programs, we are truly thankful."

Piedmont Petroleum is a family-owned and operated business with more than 160 employees that has served the local community for more than 40 years. In addition to the annual MDA shamrock sales, the company actively supports many other organizations. They are joined in this effort by CITGO Petroleum Corporation which, in alignment with the principles of social development of its shareholder, Petroleos de Venezuela, S.A., the national oil company of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, is the largest corporate sponsor of MDA.

For more information on the positive impact and support of the Muscular Dystrophy Association provided by Piedmont Petroleum and other local CITGO marketers and retailers, visit www.CITGO.com.

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