Country Fair Reaches Fundraising Milestone to Support Local Muscular Dystrophy Association Programs

ERIE, Pa., March 17, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- On Feb. 28, local CITGO Retailer Country Fair, Inc. hit a major fundraising milestone by raising $1 million for the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA).  Bill Donor, a regular customer at the Country Fair location on Peach St. in Erie, Pa., purchased a paper shamrock as part of the CITGO Retailer's 11th Annual 'Make a Muscle, Make a Difference' shamrock campaign and his donation pushed the company's total amount raised to $1 million.

"I always buy shamrocks this time of year, but I can't believe I just bought the shamrock that made Country Fair reach its unbelievable $1 million goal," said Donor, whose purchase helped Country Fair become one of the biggest MDA supporters among CITGO Retailers across the CITGO marketing footprint. "It's a great feeling to be able to make a difference in the lives of people in my community when I come into my local convenience store. I've done a lot of work for different organizations over the years and I always try to support them."

This year's campaign gives customers at all 71 Country Fair locations across northwestern Pennsylvania, western New York and eastern Ohio the opportunity to purchase $1, $5 or $10 paper shamrock mobiles to benefit MDA. The program comes to an end today, St. Patrick's Day, March 17, 2014, so the total amount raised will tally more than $1 million. In partnership with CITGO, Country Fair created an MDA shamrock campaign that fosters healthy competition between store locations and rewards employees who raise the most money. The campaign is truly a community affair as many local businesses, emergency response teams and loyal customers support the stores in friendly competition.

"Supporting organizations that benefit the lives of our consumers and our employees, like MDA, is incredibly rewarding. The green shamrock mobiles on display turn our normally red storefronts a lucky, Irish green. Each one signifies another person who is helping MDA and its many programs in the area," said Damien Zdarko, Country Fair's 'Make a Muscle, Make a Difference' shamrock program director. "Our generous customers truly seem to be at their warmest during the coldest time of the year. We can't wait to see our final fundraising total."

Country Fair, Inc. is a locally-headquartered chain of convenience stores that are integral parts of the communities they serve across three states. Country Fair employs more than 1,250 associates and was ranked 16 among the largest employers in Erie, Pa. in 2013. The company is committed to offering a wide variety of high quality products and services that meet its customers' convenience needs. Country Fair combines first-class facilities with excellent customer service to accomplish its mission, which is to satisfy "Every Customer, Every Time."

CITGO is committed to giving back to the neighborhoods it serves through its network of nearly 6,000 locally owned locations. CITGO Marketers and Retailers in Pennsylvania and New York, including Country Fair, own and operate more than 600 CITGO locations and are proud to support their communities. For more information on the positive impact of the locally owned CITGO stations, visit www.fuelinggood.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 Petróleos de Venezuela, S.A., the national oil company of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. For more information visit www.CITGO.com.

SOURCE CITGO