NORTHVALE, N.J., April 30, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Local CITGO Marketer Dattilo Petroleum today announced its gold level sponsorship of the annual Northvale Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) "Laces for Learning" 5K Run on Sunday, May 6, 2012 at Hogan's Field. All proceeds from the race go to support the students at Thomas Jefferson Elementary School and Nathan Hale Middle School in Northvale.

"As a local business, we know the importance of community. So, we are happy to support the local Northvale schools, especially at a time when funding for schools is tight," said David Gilbride with Dattilo Petroleum. "Many of the students and their parents stop at our CITGO stations, so it seemed only right to give back."

All of the proceeds from the race will benefit the Northvale students, specifically the Cultural Arts Enrichments Assemblies and Math & Reading programs, Project Graduation and Scholarships Awards for both 8th grade and high school students.

"We appreciate the generous support from Dattilo Petroleum," said Lisa Fleury, chairperson and race organizer of the Northvale PTO 5K Run. "The sponsorship brings us closer to providing local schools with the materials they need to enhance their new 'Garden Project,' which was created for the kindergarten through Grade 4 curriculum to educate and heighten students' interests involving the environment."

Last year's "Laces for Learning" 5K Run funded a new handicapped-accessible playground and recess materials to support health and fitness for the Physical Education Department's curriculum, and SMART Boards and a Computer Cart on Wheels (C.O.W.) for the classrooms. This year the organization plans to sponsor the 'Garden Project,' which is designed to grow with the needs of the elementary school, beautify the school through weather and recycling components and teach the students to grow seeds and edible plants.

Dattilo Petroleum was founded in Spring Valley, N.Y. in 1983 and is a gasoline distributor to 30 local service stations in Northern New Jersey, Southern New York and Connecticut. Local CITGO Marketers and Retailers in New Jersey like Dattilo Petroleum own and operate more than 150 CITGO locations and are proud to support their local organizations. For more information on the positive impact of the locally owned CITGO stations across the state, please visit www.citgo.com/StateTheFacts/CITGONewJerseyFactSheet.pdf.

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 Petoleos de Venezuela, S.A., the national oil company of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. For more information, visit www.CITGO.com.

SOURCE CITGO