CITGO to Distribute $60K Worth of Gift Cards to 12 Charities

HOUSTON -- CITGO Petroleum Corp. will reward 12 charities with $5,000 in gift cards as part of its Winter Fueling Good program.

This year's winners are spread throughout 11 states in which CITGO serves. According to CITGO, almost 1,700 charities entered to win the gift cards, and more than 150,000 votes were cast.

This year's winners are:

• Carolina Mountain Land Conservancy -- which partners with landowners and other groups to protect land and water resources;
• Charity Cars -- which provides free donated vehicles to struggling families nationwide;
• Friends of the Columbia County Traveling Library -- a bookmobile provider servings readers of all ages;
• Georgia Lions Lighthouse Foundation --a provider of eye exams, glasses, surgery and low-cost hearing aids to under-insured Georgia residents;
• Indiana University Foundation: Books & Beyond -- a provider of books for students in Rwanda;
• James V. Brown Library -- which operates a story mobile program for preschoolers;
• Kids Corps -- a provider of music and team-building skills for young boys;
• Phantom Regiment Drum and Bugle Corps -- a youth organization that uses music and dance to help develop self-esteem and self-reliance;
• Spring Initiative -- which offers afterschool programs, including personal education and support;
• Stony Brook Cancer Center -- which offers cancer resources, education, support and amenities for cancer patients;
• Wythe-Grayson Regional Library Foundation -- an outreach program that works with shut-ins and nursing homes; and
• Youth Home Inc. -- which helps emotionally troubled adolescents and families become healthier members of the community.

"The principles of Fueling Good can be seen in all aspects of the CITGO brand, as community support is a core value for both CITGO and the marketers and retailers who operate the nearly 6,000 locally-owned CITGO locations. That's why we are very proud to help these charities continue to serve their neighbors and improve lives in their communities," said Dr. Darío Merchán, CITGO vice president of government and public affairs. "Through the Fueling Good program we can showcase these local heroes and the good work they do, whether it is providing a car to a family that needs one or helping children learn to read."