Plymouth Whalers, WCSX and Local CITGO Stations Team Up to Support Local Families

DETROIT, Nov. 16, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Local CITGO retailers are partnering with the Plymouth Whalers and WCSX radio to collect food for needy families this holiday season. The first 10 people who donate 10 non-perishable food items at the WCSX Van hits will receive a $10 CITGO gift card, a free pair of Whalers tickets and a raffle ticket for a chance to win more prizes at the Nov. 27 Whalers game. The WCSX Van will be at the CITGO station on 42395 Ann Arbor Road in Plymouth, Michigan from 5pm to 6pm on Nov. 17 and the 15893 Telegraph Road CITGO in Redford, Michigan from 5pm to 6pm on Nov. 19. The goal of the program is to raise more than 10,000 food items for the United Way of Metro Detroit to feed families at the Salvation Army Food Pantry this holiday season.

"We are excited to partner with our local Plymouth Whalers team, WCSX and the United Way to collect food and raise awareness for needy families across the community," said Jeff Fleischman with local CITGO Marketer Peerless Distributing Company who added an additional $1,000 to the United Way's holiday food drive. "It is often easy to forget that many of our neighbors across the Detroit area are unable to put food on the table. Every year, the Plymouth Whalers Annual Food Drive helps provide for these families in need. We encourage people across the community to get involved and help."

The 2010 Plymouth Whalers Food Drive event will be held at the Nov. 27 Whalers game and will include a raffle to win a $500 CITGO Gift Card. Fans will also have a chance to take home CITGO t-shirts and additional CITGO Gift Card prizes as the Whalers and the United Way aim to score a win for local families in need, as well as hometown fans.

Developed in partnership with the Metro Detroit United Way and the local Salvation Army Food Pantry, the Plymouth Whalers Annual Food Drive raises money for children and families across the metropolitan Detroit area. Last year, the campaign collected a record one-ton of non-perishable food items. With the support of local CITGO customers and retailers, the Plymouth Whalers, WCSX and United Way hope to break last year's record so that even more families across the region can have food on their tables this holiday season.

"CITGO is committed to supporting families and communities in Michigan and across the country," said Gustavo Velasquez, vice president supply and marketing. "For generations the face of the CITGO brand has been the local marketers and retailers who make a difference in the lives of others. Together with the Whalers and WCSX, CITGO and local marketers and retailers are recognizing and rewarding local community heroes. We hope people will continue to support our efforts and give generously to the Plymouth Whalers Annual Food Drive."

The efforts of CITGO and participating locally owned CITGO stations in the Detroit area to support the United Way and the Plymouth Whalers Annual Food Drive are aligned with the social development principles of the CITGO shareholder, Petroleos de Venezuela, S.A., the national oil company of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.

For more information on the Plymouth Whalers Annual Food Drive visit www.wcsx.com/events. For information on how the more than 300 locally owned CITGO stations across Michigan make a difference in the lives of others, 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