CITGO Awards Year of Free Gasoline to Women's Shelter
LAKE CHARLES, La. -- CITGO Petroleum Corp. named the Calcasieu Women's Shelter as the newest Grand Prize Winner in CITGO's Fueling Good, the company announced. The shelter provides space, support and counseling to victims of domestic and sexual violence across Southwest Louisiana. As part of the award, the shelter will receive a year's supply of free CITGO gasoline and a case of CITGO motor oil.
"The Fueling Good Grand Prize will make a significant impact on our organization and we are extremely grateful to CITGO for its support," said Kathy Williams, Executive Director of the Calcasieu Women's Shelter. "Each year, we provide assistance through housing, shelter, advocacy, and legal advice to more than 1,500 women and children from across the region. As a nonprofit organization, we are always conscious of our operational costs. Not having to worry about purchasing fuel for our support vehicles means we'll be able to put more money towards the vital services we offer women and families in need."
The Fueling Good program is meant to recognize and rewards charities and individuals that improve the lives of people in their community, according to CITGO. Representatives of Sonia Petroleum, a Lake Charles-based CITGO marketer, helped recognize the shelter as a Grand Prize Winner. Sonia Petroleum provides extensive support to a wide range of charity and community programs, the company said.
"It's an honor to help recognize and reward the Calcasieu Women's Shelter for its ongoing commitment to assisting domestic violence victims," said Iqbal Mohammad, owner of Sonia Petroleum. "The resources, shelter, and ongoing support it provides to women and their children is inspirational. We look forward to joining the local CITGO refinery, which has a long history of donating money, food, and time to the shelter, in the long-term support for this vital organization." Calcasieu Women's Shelter, founded in 1979, also uses educational programs to advance community awareness and understanding of the signs, causes and solutions to domestic violence.
The Fueling Good program also used a nationwide online vote to recognize organizations such as the Michigan Animal Adoption Network and the Texas-based International Exotic Animal Sanctuary. Three individuals in New York, Pennsylvania and Maryland also won a share in CITGO gift cards through a sweepstakes intended to reward those who voted for their favorite local heroes, said the company.