HOUSTON -- CITGO Petroleum Corp. has launched its Fueling Education promotion, a new program with ClassWish that offers teachers, student teachers and Parent Teacher Association/Parent Teacher Organization (PTA/PTO) members a chance to win $1,000 in school supplies for their classrooms.
From April 15 through July 7, 2013, K-12 public school teachers can visit the Fueling Education website, www.classwish.org/fuelingeducation, to create a customized school supply wish list for their classroom. The program will randomly select three $1,000 winners from each of the 27 states in which CITGO operates, as well as the District of Columbia, for a total of 84 winners across the CITGO footprint.
"Education is one of the four CITGO pillars of good, so we are thrilled to help local teachers purchase supplies that might otherwise be funded out of their own pockets," said Gustavo Velasquez, vice president of supply and marketing with CITGO. "Partnering with ClassWish for the Fueling Education Promotion gives us an opportunity to respond to the specific needs of classrooms throughout the communities in which we operate and, most importantly, helps provide our hard-working teachers with the resources they need to fuel young minds."
To increase their chances to win, teachers who have already entered their wish list on the Fueling Education website can post a photo on Instagram that says "Hey CITGO--Fuel Good in my classroom!"
It will select 25 Instagram entries at random to receive $1,000 in school supplies and a $100 CITGO Gift Card. It will award prizes beginning in August.
"CITGO and its network of nearly 6,000 locally owned stations are committed to giving back to local communities across the country," said Velasquez. "With every single gallon, CITGO fuels the engine of good and promotes positive change."
In other company charitable news, CITGO is also renewing its sponsorship of Bess the Book Bus, one of the first Fueling Good winners and a nationwide advocate for literacy. Throughout 2013, Bess will travel to schools, community centers, shelters and after-school programs in more than 30 cities across the country, while also continuing to build and enhance school and classroom libraries. New this year, Bess is also partnering with local authors, artists and musicians to bring art and music to underserved schools.
"Because education is one of the core pillars in our social responsibility program, it's a natural extension to support Bess the Book Bus," said Velasquez. "Furthermore, Bess' founder, Jennifer Frances, is a true local hero who makes a substantial, positive impact in the communities in which CITGO and its locations operate. The smiles and excitement that Bess the Book Bus has brought to thousands of families during the last 10 years are priceless and CITGO is proud to continue its support for this life-changing program."
Through support from CITGO and other corporate sponsors, Bess the Book Bus has covered more than 48 states, supported more than 60,000 families, and donated more than 450,000 books.
"Without the continued support from CITGO, we would not have the fuel and resources that are required to reach the number of children and families we have since 2009," said Jennifer Frances, Founder of Bess the Book Bus. "We look forward to continuing to spread the love of reading and books to more children through our partnership with CITGO."
CITGO, 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 SA, the national oil company of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.
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