SAN ANTONIO -- With the help of more than 2,000 sponsors, businesses and community partners from across North America, the Valero Texas Open & Benefit for Children Golf Classic, held at the Westin La Cantera Resort, have raised a new record amount for children's charities: $8.5 million.
Funds for charity are raised through sponsorships sold during the Valero Texas Open and the Valero Benefit for Children Golf Classic. A record number of participants played golf October 13, at 10 of San Antonio's premier golf courses in this year's Benefit for Children. Funds raised will be donated [image-nocss] to children's charities in locations where Valero, North America's largest refiner and marketer, does business. Valero employees select children's service agencies in their area to share a portion of the Benefit for Children fundraising total. The money is then distributed through check presentation parties at all of these locations.
"It never stops being exciting—the chance to raise even more money for children's charities in all of the areas where Valero operates," said Gene Edwards, executive vice president of corporate development and strategic planning, who headed up Valero's efforts in this year's tournament. "Valero is so thankful for its generous business partners, who every year give even more to make a difference in the lives of underprivileged children."
The $8.5 million fundraising total keeps the Valero Texas Open among the most charitable tournaments on the PGA TOUR. Golf San Antonio, which organizes the Valero Texas Open, raises charitable dollars through its pro-am events, the Birdies for Charity program in which nonprofit organizations solicit pledges for every birdie made during tournament week, and the Chip In for Schools program, which allows schools to sell discounted tournament tickets and keep all the proceeds.
"Valero's partnership with the Valero Texas Open has only grown stronger over the years," said GSA chairman Tom Stephenson. "Through the support of Valero's many volunteers, and the generosity of its sponsors, the Valero Texas Open continues to be a recognized and respected stop on the TOUR. And we look forward to doing it all over again in May 2009."
The 2009 Valero Texas Open is scheduled for May 11-17, returning the tournament to a spring date and providing its players a chance to earn FedEx Cup points.
Valero Energy Corp., San Antonio, owns and operates 16 refineries throughout the United States, Canada and the Caribbean with a combined throughput capacity of approximately 3.1 million barrels per day, making it the largest refiner in North America. Valero is also 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 various brand names including Valero, Diamond Shamrock, Shamrock, Ultramar and Beacon.
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