The $2 million amount represents an increase from the $1.375 million distributed last year. The number of charities receiving checks also increased, from 63 to 84. (Click here for the full list of charities.)
"Valero is especially proud to be able to increase its gifts to these organizations during these difficult economic times, when the need is increasing," said Bill Klesse, Valero's chairman and CEO. "Through the generosity of our business partners and the hard work of thousands of volunteers, additional children will benefit from these gifts."
The Valero Texas Open remains one of the top tournaments in terms of charitable fundraising on the PGA TOUR. This year's tournament was played in the spring as part of the PGA TOUR regular season and FedExCup competition for the first time since Valero became the title sponsor in 2002, and in total the tournament and the Benefit for Children will distribute $8 million to children's charities across the nation.
"Putting on the tournament takes a lot of hard work and dedication, but when you see the result that we did today, it makes it all worth it," Klesse said.
Iowa native Zach Johnson won the Valero Texas Open for a second straight year. Johnson took the lead in a dramatic sudden-death playoff during the May 17 Open held at the La Cantera Resort Course in San Antonio. (Click here for more details.)
Valero, based in San Antonio, Texas, has approximately 22,000 employees and had 2008 revenues of $119 billion. It owns and operates 16 refineries throughout the United States, Canada and the Caribbean with a combined throughput capacity of approximately three million barrels per day, making it the largest refiner in North America. Valero is also a leading ethanol producer with seven ethanol plants in the Midwest with a combined capacity of 780 million gallons per year, and is one of the nation's largest retail operators with approximately 5,800 retail and branded wholesale outlets in the United States, Canada and the Caribbean under the Valero, Diamond Shamrock, Shamrock, Ultramar and Beacon brands.
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