Mac's Market and CITGO Challenge Local Residents to Raise $10,000 for Vermont Children's Cancer Camp

RUTLAND, Vt., June 25 /PRNewswire/ -- Mac's Market stores across Vermont are challenging members of the community to grab their golf clubs and join in the 15th Annual Mac's Charity Golf Classic on June 30. Organizers and supporters, including CITGO Petroleum Corporation, want to raise at least $10,000 for Camp Ta-Kum-Ta, a summer camp where children undergoing cancer treatment can go, free of charge, to enjoy the fun and excitement many children take for granted.

"We're inviting all local golfers to participate in the tournament and support a wonderful children's charity," said Bob Wetherby, vice president of Mac's Market. "Over the past 15 years, Mac's Charity Golf Classic has raised more than $150,000 for a variety of local charities through the generous support of our community. This year, we are challenging our friends and neighbors to raise more than $10,000 so that we can send more children to camp this summer."

Mac's Market is hoping to bring together more than 120 golfers at this year's event, held at Rutland Country Club, in Rutland, Vt. Many local businesses and members of the community have already pledged their support for this event. The 2010 tournament will feature 18 holes of golf; competitions, including a hole in one contest with a chance to win a Toyota Corolla sponsored by Alderman's Toyota in Rutland, Vt., best overall score, closest to the pin and longest drive; and great food and gifts throughout the day provided by sponsors such as CITGO. All money raised will stay in the local community to help Camp Ta-Kum-Ta and its ongoing efforts to provide a once-in-a-lifetime camp experience to children touched by cancer.

"Camp Ta-Kum-Ta operates solely on donations, so we rely on the generosity of local heroes like Mac's Markets. Without them, we would not be able to help children with cancer have summer adventures, forget about their illness and just be kids for a week," said Dennis DePaul, president of the board of directors for Camp Ta-Kum-Ta. "Camp is a wonderful way for children with cancer to break away from the often painful treatments and regimes they face. We hope that many people will open their hearts and join this wonderful event to support children across the community."

In the past 15 years, Mac's Market has been joined by members of the community to raise more than $150,000 for a wide variety of charities, including local education, housing assistance, health efforts through the United Way and providing hope and inspiration to children with neuromuscular disease through the Muscular Dystrophy Association.

Mac's Market is joined in its support of local children in need by CITGO, which has supported the Rutland community for many years. Through the efforts of nearly 6,500 locally owned CITGO stations in 27 states and the District of Columbia, CITGO donates millions of dollars each year to local charities and community groups, in alignment with the social development principles of its shareholder, Petroleos de Venezuela, S.A., the national oil company of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. CITGO is proud to partner with Mac's Market in support of Camp Ta-Kum-Ta.

For more information on the 15th Annual Mac's Charity Golf Classic, contact Bob Wetherby at 802-786-1234.  For information on how Camp Ta-Kum-Ta makes a tremendous impact on the lives of children with cancer, visit www.takumta.org.

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