SAN ANTONIO -- Valero Energy Corp. recently raised $1.39 million for the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) in its "Share the Shamrock Spirit" campaign during which customers could make a donation to MDA at any of the company's nearly 1,000 U.S. company-operated stores. The total raised is nearly 3% more on a per-store basis than the amount donated last year.
"We're proud to have had another successful MDA campaign, and to know we're helping to make a difference in the lives of those fighting neuromuscular diseases," said Gary Arthur, Valero's senior [image-nocss] vice president of retail marketing. "The amount raised in this campaign is truly a tribute to our hard-working and compassionate employees, and to our customers who give so generously. This would not be possible without them."
All proceeds raised during the campaign were donated to MDA, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing vital services and information to individuals affected by neuromuscular diseases. MDA also funds a summer camp for children battling these diseases and supports research aimed at finding cures and treatments.
With its nationwide donation of $1,387,293, Valero's retail stores have raised more than $11 million for MDA over the past 21 years.
And in other Valero charity news, the 2007 Valero Texas Open Benefit for Children Golf Classic will be held October 7-8 at the Westin La Cantera Resort in San Antonio and will culminate the weeklong activities associated with the Valero Texas Open, the PGA Tour event that Valero began sponsoring in 2002.
The Benefit for Children Golf Classic will include a welcome dinner for Valero Partner, Premier, Diamond, Platinum, Gold, Sterling, Silver and other significant sponsors on October 7.
The following day, the Benefit for Children tournament will get under way with morning and afternoon golf outings on nine different golf courses, followed by awards receptions.
The 2006 Benefit for Children Golf Classic, together with the Valero Texas Open, contributed a record total of $7 million to charity. With this record-breaking donation, the Valero Texas Open placed first among all 2006 events on the PGA Tour in terms of charitable giving, and exceeded $25 million in charitable giving since the tournament?s inception.
Of the $7 million contributed in 2006, a record $5.7 million was generated by the Benefit for Children, which benefited more than 350 children?s charities in more than 20 communities throughout the United States, Canada and Aruba where Valero has operations.
The Valero Texas Open Benefit for Children Golf Classic, a project of the Valero Energy Foundation, raises money for children?s charities in the communities where Valero has major operations. The beneficiaries are nominated by Valero employees, and an all-employee committee evaluates the charities and makes the final selection of agencies which they believe will provide the most benefits to disadvantaged or disabled children. Each agency is also required to demonstrate that the funds will be used for specific programs targeted to children.
San Antonio-based Valero, with approximately 22,000 employees and 2006 revenues of more than $90 billion, owns and operates 18 refineries throughout the United States, Canada and the Caribbean with a combined throughput capacity of approximately 3.3 million barrels per day, making it the largest refiner in North America. Valero is also one of the nation?s largest retail operators with more than 5,800 retail and branded wholesale outlets in the United States, Canada and the Caribbean under brand names including Valero, Diamond Shamrock, Shamrock, Ultramar, and Beacon.
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