Citgo and Gate Petroluem Recognize The Original 1-800 Charity Cars For Fueling Good

Non-profit Awarded CITGO Gift Cards for Providing Families with Free Cars

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May 01, 2012, 08:25 ET

LONGWOOD, Fla., May 1, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Caring about people and helping to improve the quality of their lives is a deeply embedded value of CITGO Petroleum Corporation and its Fueling Good program. Now in its fourth year of rewarding local heroes, the Fueling Good program has assisted more than 200 non-profit organizations in carrying out their vital missions, from caring for the eyes and ears of the underinsured to providing support for families affected by mental illness to protecting valuable water resources.

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CITGO and local Marketer Gate Petroleum recently recognized The Original 1-800 Charity Cars of Longwood, Fla., as a 2012 Winter Fueling Good winner. Dedicated to providing donated vehicles to struggling families nationwide, the non-profit received $5,000 in CITGO Gift Cards to help more families with vehicles in the year ahead.

"At a time when families across the country are experiencing financial difficulties, donations of any kind go a long way," said Rose Hill, spokeswoman for The Original 1-800 Charity Cars. "We are extremely thankful for the generous donation from CITGO and Gate Petroleum. It is vital to have sponsors that help us repair and deliver donated vehicles. The CITGO Gift Cards will go a long way to help alleviate the fuel costs, and allows us to allocate more money to the repairs and distribution of more cars to families in need."

Established in 1996, The Original 1-800 Charity Cars is the nation's largest car donation and distribution program, distributing more than 4,500 vehicles to date. The non-profit provides free vehicles and vehicle support services to assist disadvantaged families in their transition from dependency to self-sufficiency. The refurbished vehicles ensure safety and reliability to families willing to work. Other services include license plates, down-payment for insurance, service warranties and case management services.

"We are honored to support The Original 1-800 Charity Cars in its efforts to help struggling families get back on their feet with a safe and reliable car," said Mike Love, vice president of Gate Petroleum. "The program offers an indispensable solution to assist families across the country. We know that sometimes everyone needs a little help, which is why the Fueling Good program is so important. It allows charities to expand their greatly needed programs, especially during economic hardship. "

The principles of Fueling Good can be seen in all aspects of the CITGO brand. In fact, since the launch of the program in 2009, CITGO has fueled more than a million miles of good through its support of local heroes like The Original 1-800 Charity Cars. During the most recent campaign, nearly 1,700 charities entered and nearly 151,000 votes were cast to help determine the current round of Fueling Good winners.

Registration for the next Fueling Good program will open for all 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations within the CITGO marketing area on Sept. 4, 2012. To enter for a chance to win up to $5,000 in CITGO Gift Cards, or to learn how CITGO and local organizations are making a difference, visit www.FuelingGood.com. For regular updates and to join the conversation, "Like" CITGO Fueling Good at www.Facebook.com/CITGOFuelingGood and view videos of past winners at www.youtube.com/CITGOFuelingGood.

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 Petroleos de Venezuela, S.A., the national oil company of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. For more information, visit www.CITGO.com.

SOURCE CITGO Petroleum Corporation