Mid-State Petroleum And CITGO Recognize Kopper Top Life Learning Center For Fueling Good In North Carolina

HOUSTON and LIBERTY, N.C., Feb. 22, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- CITGO Petroleum Corporation and local CITGO Marketer Mid-State Petroleum recently recognized the Kopper Top Life Learning Center as one of the latest Fueling Good winners. The North Carolina non-profit received $5,000 in CITGO Gift Cards to help carry out its mission of providing animal-assisted therapeutic services to individuals with and without disabilities. The award will help the Kopper Top Life Learning Center fuel its Healing PAAWS (People and Animals We Serve) program, which transports Kopper Top's animals and therapeutic services to nursing homes and community events.

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"Animal-assisted therapy offers a unique healing experience to people with disabilities, helping individuals move past the limitations they may face to reach their personal goals," said Deborah Meridith, founder and executive director of the Kopper Top Life Learning Center. "CITGO has provided our program with an unbelievable opportunity to grow and reach even more people throughout our community. Thanks to Fueling Good, our people and our animals can continue to do what they love most - helping people in need."

The Kopper Top Life Learning Center provides unique therapy to those in need through a variety of animal-assisted recreational programs. Since its founding in 1990, the Kopper Top Life Learning Center has helped nearly 1,000 people each month enhance their quality of life and achieve personal goals.

"We are honored to present this CITGO Fueling Good award to the Kopper Top Life Learning Center. Deborah and her animals improve the quality of life for each and every person they reach," said Tony Perez, president at Mid-State Petroleum. "The services Kopper Top offers bring countless smiles to faces across the Liberty community, and for that, Mid-State Petroleum is pleased to support such a deserving organization."

Over the past four years, CITGO has donated more than a million miles of good to more than 200 local heroes and non-profit organizations through its Fueling Good program. In the latest campaign, an all-time record of more than 300,000 votes were cast to determine the 12 winning 501(c)(3) organizations. To learn more about the Fueling Good program and past program recipients, 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 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