Mid-State Petroleum Raises More Than $50,000 for Local MDA Chapter

HIGH POINT, N.C., June 29, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- North Carolina-based CITGO fuel distributor Mid-State Petroleum raised more than $50,000 in support of the Greensboro District Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA). The money, generated by the sale of MDA Shamrocks at seven CITGO Pop Shoppe Stores across the region and a Casino Night event, will support local children and families touched by neuromuscular disease, specifically sending as many as 65 children to a MDA Summer Camp.

"On behalf of all the Mid-State Petroleum employees and the owners and operators of our local Pop Shoppe CITGO stores, I would like to thank everyone who donated to this important cause. Our success is the result of the generous support from our customers and other local businesses," said Tony Perez, vice president with Mid-State Petroleum. "I'm pleased to say that 2011 is proving to be our most successful fundraising year on record. Not only did motorists dig deep by purchasing MDA Shamrocks and donating loose change at the Pop Shoppe Stores, our first annual MDA Casino Night blew away our expectations."

"This money will go a long way to improving the lives of many children in our region and their families who battle with muscular dystrophy every day. We are thrilled to help give them experiences, like a week at summer camp, that so many of us take for granted," added Perez.

Participating CITGO Pop Shoppe Stores across North Carolina sold MDA Shamrocks in February and March. The enthusiasm of local store employees and local competitions in stores helped generate more than $20,000 for the MDA through Shamrock sales and generous spot donations, meeting their goal for 2011.

To provide even more children with a chance to go to summer camp and receive life-changing services, Mid-State Petroleum also raised money through its first annual MDA Casino Night. The event was attended by roughly 60 vendors, business partners, and friends from across the community and raised more than $30,000 through casino games, a silent auction, and other programs. Organizers were overwhelmed by the success and look forward to growing the event for years to come.

"The money raised by the CITGO Pop Shoppe stores will be used within North Carolina to support local families and provide them with access to our large range of services," said Brittne Stevens, Executive Director with the Greensboro District of the Muscular Dystrophy Association. "We are so grateful for the donation from Mid-State Petroleum and its ongoing efforts to help raise awareness of our programs and these diseases. Having such an enthusiastic and prominent local business support our efforts makes a world of difference to the children and families we serve. We look forward to building on our past success for many years to come."

Over the past 11 years, Mid-State Petroleum has raised more than $500,000 in support of MDA. The company and the locally owned CITGO Pop Shoppe Stores are joined in their efforts by CITGO Petroleum Corporation. CITGO, in alignment with the principles of social development of its shareholder, Petroleos de Venezuela, S.A., the national oil company of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, is the largest corporate sponsor of MDA, raising more than $130 million since 1986.

For more information on Mid-State Petroleum, visit www.mid-statepetroleum.com. For more information on the positive impact that CITGO has throughout North Carolina, visit www.CITGO.com/NorthCarolina.

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 Mid-State Petroleum