CITGO, Harris County Sheriff's Office Join Forces Once Again to Improve High School Attendance

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Jan 22, 2015, 05:22 ET

HOUSTON, Jan. 22, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- CITGO Petroleum Corporation and the Harris County Sheriff's Office (HCSO) have launched the 2015 campaign of the "Kindling Young Minds" program, which is aimed at boosting attendance at six Houston area high schools.

Between Jan. 14 and Jan. 23, representatives from CITGO and HCSO are visiting schools in the Alief, Houston, and Spring Branch Independent School Districts (ISD) to honor students who have demonstrated improved attendance through the fall semester. Under the program, now in its second year, the students will receive Kindle Fire tablets in recognition of their achievement.

"The 'Kindling Young Minds' program not only motivates students to improve and maintain a good attendance record, it also provides a tool to help them complete homework at home or on the go," said Randolph Adami, principal at Northbrook High School. "We are very thankful for this partnership with CITGO and HCSO and all what we are accomplishing together."

As part of the program, the Alief, Houston, and Spring Branch Independent School Districts (ISD) each identified two schools that experience high absenteeism, for a total of six participating schools. This first installment aims to distribute 40 Kindle Fire tablets, and an additional 60 tablets will be distributed near the end of the school year, for a total of 100 tablets to be presented by representatives of CITGO and HCSO.

Jan. 14: Hastings High School, Alief ISD
Jan. 14: Elsik High School, Alief ISD
Jan. 15: Northbrook High School, Spring Branch ISD
Jan. 22: Spring Woods High School, Spring Branch ISD
Jan. 23: Harper Alternative School, Houston ISD
Jan. 23: Inspired for Excellence School, Houston ISD (Sheriff Adrian Garcia will be attending this presentation)

"We are very happy to see that the 'Kindling Young Minds' program has matured into its second year, reminding students that each day counts," said Sheriff Adrian Garcia. He continued: "We are excited to revisit the schools to see how the program continues to have a positive impact on students and schools. We are proud that our partnership with CITGO has helped empower the students in Harris County to do well in school."

CITGO President and CEO Nelson P. Martínez noted that "through knowledge, communities are equipped to achieve long-lasting sustainability. That's why we at CITGO support educational social initiatives that create meaningful impact," adding that "we are thankful for this partnership with HCSO that seeks to motivate students to attend school and provides tools to help them succeed academically."

The "Kindling Young Minds" Program is one of the ways CITGO gives back to the communities in which it operates. CITGO supports educational and social initiatives while addressing some of today's most difficult societal challenges.

Each year, CITGO invests in social programs that help ease the burden of many families across the country through initiatives such as the Caring for our Coast Initiative, the Fueling Education campaign, and CITGO's 29-year-long support of the Muscular Dystrophy Association. In the area of education in Houston, CITGO partners with the city's largest independent school district, Houston ISD, and with Alief and Spring Branch ISDs, which neighbor our corporate headquarters building, with initiatives such as Back to School Supply Drives and others. In addition, CITGO employees and those at nearly 6,000 local independently owned and operated CITGO branded stations provide thousands of volunteer hours and millions of dollars to help organizations in their own communities.

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 Corporation