CITGO Pop Shoppe stores across North Carolina have rallied the community in support of children and families touched by debilitating neuromuscular diseases.
Through paper shamrock sales, CITGO Pop Shoppe stores and their supplier Mid-State Petroleum, raised more than $27,000, enough to send more than 30 children with muscular dystrophy to a Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) summer camp. This amount breaks last year’s fundraising by more than $10,000.
“We have worked with MDA for 13 years and are deeply committed to supporting this wonderful charity,” said Nelson Perez, president of High Point, N.C.-based Mid-State Petroleum. “We challenge ourselves and our customers each year to raise as much money as possible to improve the lives of many families across North Carolina living with these diseases. With the support of our loyal customers and dedicated CITGO Pop Shoppe operators and employees, we collected more than $27,000, greatly exceeding our fundraising goals this year.”
“It’s truly a testament to the strength and level of caring in our community that even in tough economic times, people across North Carolina will dig deep in their pockets and give. These valuable donations will make the world of difference to many local children and their families,” added Perez.
Ten CITGO Pop Shoppe stores in North Carolina sold the MDA Shamrocks from Feb. 5 to March 31. The enthusiasm of CITGO Pop Shoppe employees helped inspire members of the local community to open their hearts and their wallets to make a difference in the lives of needy families. Two CITGO Pop Shoppe stores even went over and above by organizing raffles and other prize opportunities to raise additional donations. Each of these stores raised $6,500.
“The money raised by the CITGO Pop Shoppe stores will stay within North Carolina to support local families and allow children with neuromuscular disease to enjoy activities, such as summer camps, often for the first time in their lives,” said Brittne Stevens, executive director with the Greensboro District of the Muscular Dystrophy Association. “We are so grateful for the generous donation from the CITGO Pop Shoppe stores. Once again they have helped educate people in our community about the daily struggles faced by children and families touched by these diseases and inspired their neighbors to support MDA.”
CITGO Petroleum, in alignment with the principles of social development of its shareholder, Petróleos de Venezuela, S.A., the national oil company of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, is the largest corporate sponsor of MDA. CITGO and the Pop Shoppe stores are dedicated to serving their community and raising money to support MDA and other local charity and community programs, just like each of the nearly 500 locally-owned CITGO stations in North Carolina and the nearly 6,500 CITGO stations across 27 states and the District of Columbia.
For more information on Mid-State Petroleum and local CITGO Pop Shoppe stores, visit www.mid-statepetroleum.com. To learn about the positive impact of CITGO operations in North Carolina, visit www.CITGO.com/NorthCarolina.
CITGO, based in Houston, is a refiner, transporter and marketer of transportation fuels, lubricants, petrochemicals and other industrial products. The company is owned by PDV America Inc., an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Petróleos de Venezuela, S.A., the national oil company of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.
