The week-long program, which ran April 13-17, included daily fundraising activities and events for CITGO employees, including a bake sale, a corporate garage sale, an online auction and a raffle that featured the chance to throw out a first pitch [image-nocss] at the Houston Astros' game on April 17. On Friday, April 17, members of the Houston Astros visited CITGO employees and their families to show their support and encourage even more donations to MDA. CITGO employees also were encouraged to contribute money to MDA through payroll deductions, an effort which alone raised more than $74,000 this year.
"The entire CITGO family is deeply committed to MDA, and the Campaign Week events underline the enthusiasm we all have for the program," said Jennifer Moos, brand development general manager with CITGO. "We are proud to say that CITGO raised $102,000 for MDA through this year's program, surpassing our goal of $100,000. This money, in addition to funds from year-long MDA fundraising efforts, will provide valuable support to the local MDA families in the Houston Gulf Coast region and help MDA's efforts across the country."
Houston-based CITGO also was honored to host MDA's National Goodwill Ambassador, nine-year-old Abbey Umali, who spoke to CITGO employees about the support MDA provides. Thanks to the generosity of the Houston Astros, Umali and her family were able to attend batting practice and meet Astros players before a game against the Cincinnati Reds. She later cheered on the team with her family and representatives from CITGO and MDA. In addition to the CITGO employee raffle winner, Abbey had the honor of throwing out a first pitch at the start of the game with Astros Manager Cecil Cooper assisting her to the mound.
In collaboration with its business partners, marketers, vendors, retailers and employees, CITGO is the largest corporate sponsor of the Muscular Dystrophy Association, having raised more than $100 million over the past 23 years. CITGO employees, from the corporate, refining, terminal, and supply groups, regularly participate in MDA fundraising events. In addition, they are joined by the network of nearly 7,000 locally owned CITGO stations that raise money through programs such as annual holiday and St. Patrick's Day Shamrock sales and golf tournaments.
Meanwhile, the Pop Shoppe CITGO station in High Point, N.C., was one of 21 locally owned Pop Shoppes that raised money through the Shamrocks Against Dystrophy program to send kids with muscular dystrophy to summer camp. After receiving a fantastic response from the local community, the station was able to raise more than $5,200, enough to send six children with debilitating neuromuscular diseases to camp.
"We know the economy is bad," said Pat St. Louis, manager of the Kivett Drive Pop Shoppe CITGO station. "But we absolutely believe that if you give, you will receive. My niece has muscular dystrophy, and I've seen how much she gets out of the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) Camp, so we are very much committed to helping as many kids as we can throughout the year."
To raise as much money as possible, the store instituted an "every customer, every time" policy which helped them raise more than $5,200, beating their target of $4,000. "We asked people to donate every time they came in the store," said St. Louis. "Even if they are one of our regular customers who come in every day, you never know when they might have a little extra money."
In coordination with local petroleum distributor Mid-State Petroleum Inc., Pop Shoppe CITGO stores across the High Point, N.C. area raised approximately $18,000 for MDA this year through CITGO Petroleum's Shamrocks Against Dystrophy program. These funds are matched, dollar for dollar, by CITGO.
"I've visited MDA's Camp Carefree in Stokesdale, N.C., and seen the good that this money does for the children and their families," said Nelson Perez, president of Mid-State Petroleum. "I'm proud of how hard Pop Shoppe employees work to raise funds, and also the generosity of the community members who donate money for this great cause."
Pop Shoppe stores across North Carolina will continue to collect money for the Muscular Dystrophy Association throughout the year. People can visit any of the 21 area Pop Shoppes to make a donation. Mid-State Petroleum will also be continuing its annual golf tournament this year and hopes to break last year's total fundraising figure of approximately $50,000 for the association.
CITGOis 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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