CITGO, JFK Neighborhood Association, and Oklahoma State Department of Health Partner for Neighborhood Clean-Up

OKLAHOMA CITY, Nov. 16, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- CITGO Petroleum Corporation and its Lubricant Blending and Packaging Plant in Oklahoma City know the meaning of being a good neighbor. On Nov. 12, they partnered with the JFK Neighborhood Association (JFKNA), the Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH), The Debra Rothe Group Home and Ron Walters Construction to clean up trash, clear sidewalks of debris and plants and dispose of illegally dumped items along NE 8th Street in the JFK neighborhood of Oklahoma City as part of the OSDH's "Adopt-A-Street" program.

"It is common to see trees and abandoned items crowding our sidewalks. This forces residents to walk in the streets, which is especially dangerous for children and the elderly. We are constantly working to clear obstructions and clean up the streets, but some areas require repeat maintenance. That is when help from our community sponsors like CITGO is especially crucial," said Jeff Trevillion, president of the JFK Neighborhood Association. "We are sincerely grateful to CITGO for its generous donation of time and resources to help make the JFK neighborhood become a safer, more beautiful place."

More than 30 volunteers from the CITGO OKC Lube Plant joined 17 other volunteers from the JFKNA, OSDH, The Debra Rothe Group Home and Ron Walters Construction to clean up trash and clear sidewalks of overgrown trees and shrubbery. The group also removed illegally dumped debris, including 167 old tires. The volunteers collected and properly disposed of more than 40 cubic yards of trash and debris found along a one-mile stretch of NE 8th Street. The CITGO OKC Lube Plant also provided gloves, water, and two pick-up trucks to help with the clean-up effort and alleviate some of the costs involved for this community effort.

"The Adopt-A-Street program started as a clean-up program, but through the support of community partners like CITGO, it has grown into so much more. Through this program we are promoting the public health goals of injury prevention, disease prevention, obesity reduction and children's health by ensuring that the area sidewalks are cleared of debris and hazards," said Walter J. Jacques, head of the Community Involvement Team at the Oklahoma State Department of Health. "I believe that together with the CITGO OKC Lube Plant, we will continue to make a real impact on this community."

Since 1995, the CITGO OKC Lube Plant has been dedicated to giving back to the communities it serves. Each year, the plant runs a variety of charity events including regular clean up of its 22-acre perimeter, blood drives, food and coat drives in the winter and fundraisers to support the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA), for which CITGO is the largest corporate sponsor. Employees also loaded semi-trucks for the Oklahoma Food Bank, provided T-shirts to the local high school students and are currently participating in the Governor's Food Drive Program.

"Giving back to the community and helping others are core philosophies for CITGO. At the OKC plant, we are always cleaning up the perimeter of our grounds, but wanted to expand those efforts beyond our fence and make a bigger contribution," said Gary Barentine, CITGO OKC plant manager. "It was a pleasure to see our employees engaged with the community and working with our neighbors to clean up an area important to us all. We hope that our successful clean-up day is only the start of an ongoing relationship with the JFKNA and OSDH as we work together to better the JFK neighborhood."

The JFK Neighborhood Association was established in 1987, and meetings are held on the second Saturday of each month at 10:00 a.m. at East Sixth Street Christian Church, 1139 NE 6th Street. The JFKNA is also assisted by the Neighborhood Alliance of Central Oklahoma, a non-profit organization dedicated to creating safe, attractive and healthy neighborhoods throughout Central Oklahoma by working with neighborhoods and government officials to create communities in which people are proud to live and work.

The spirit of giving back to the community and helping others can be seen in all aspects of the CITGO brand and are aligned with the social development principles of the CITGO shareholder, Petroleos de Venezuela, S.A. (PDVSA), the national oil company of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.

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