Q Mart Stores Raise Nearly $24,000 to Send Needy Children to Camp

SHEBOYGAN, Wis., April 21 /PRNewswire/ -- Twenty Q Mart Stores and Sheboygan-based fuel supplier Quality State Oil raised almost $24,000 for the local Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) chapter, enough to send about 30 children with muscular dystrophy to the annual MDA summer camp. Customers, local businesses, and others across Sheboygan, Winnebago, Fond du Lac, Door, and Outagamie counties were inspired by Q Mart employees to help area children and their families touched by neuromuscular disease. Because of their generosity, the total amount raised increased by 25% over last year's total.

"The support and dedication of our customers and employees in helping the local MDA chapter has been amazing," said Scott Stangel, wholesale marketing manager with Quality State Oil. "All the money raised will stay in Wisconsin and support programs such as the MDA summer camp in Green Lake, Wis., a place where children with debilitating diseases can experience the joys and adventures that most take for granted."

Leading this year's Q Mart fundraising efforts was the team at the Geele Ave. CITGO Q Mart in Sheboygan which raised more than $6,000. Store employees engaged customers through raffles for prizes such as Brewers' baseball tickets, CITGO gift cards, and restaurant vouchers. A 'Shamrock Wall of Fame' also honored the most generous customers. This level of involvement and overall dedication qualifies the Geele Ave. team as one of the leading MDA fundraisers in the CITGO retail network, earning them once again an appearance on the nationally-televised MDA Labor Day Telethon.

"Each year we are blown away by the Q Mart and Quality State Oil team and their ability to rally the community, no matter what the economy is doing," said Dawn Ver Haagh, director of business development, with the Green Bay, Wisconsin chapter of MDA. "Having one of the leading MDA fundraising CITGO stations in our area is a blessing for so many local children and their families. We are truly thankful for everyone that contributed to our cause and are committed to using the money to help as many local families as possible."

Through the shamrock sales and a number of major fundraising events throughout the year, Q Mart stores and Quality State Oil hope to raise $60,000 this year for the local MDA chapter. They are supported in this effort by CITGO Petroleum Corporation which, 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, is the largest corporate sponsor of MDA. Through the efforts of nearly 6,500 locally owned CITGO stations in 27 states and the District of Columbia, just like the Q Mart stores in Wisconsin, CITGO has donated more than $100 million to MDA over the past 24 years.

For more information on how Q Mart stores and Quality State Oil make a difference in the lives of local children in Wisconsin, visit www.qmartmarketplace.com. For details on the positive impact of CITGO across Wisconsin, visit www.CITGO.com/Wisconsin.

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