CITGO Chairman, President and CEO Alejandro Granado, the Ambassador of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela Bernardo Alvarez and Citizens Energy Chairman Joseph P. Kennedy II were honored at a “wopila” ceremony of thanks on Feb. 7 in Rapid City, S.D.

More than 200 representatives from tribal nations throughout the United States took part in the event to thank CITGO, Citizens Energy and Venezuela for the $21 million in heating assistance grants that will help tribal members who are struggling this winter to keep pace with the rising cost of energy.

The program, a partnership between CITGO and Citizens Energy, will distribute approximately 43 million gallons of fuel to more than 224,000 households and 250 social service providers in 23 states, and 223 tribal communities.

Through CITGO, Citizens Energy and the generosity of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, the direct grants to tribal communities began last year in response to appeals from tribal leaders. The program to help tribal communities began in four tribal communities in northern Maine, and it quickly grew from there.

“We have been expanding the tribal CITGO-Venezuela Heating Oil Program every year,” Granado said. “During the second year, we went from serving four tribal communities to providing free oil and other forms of heating assistance to 173 tribal communities in Alaska, in addition to including tribal communities in South Dakota, Michigan, North Dakota, Minnesota, New York and Montana.”

Now in its third year, the program has added six tribal communities in the states of Washington, Massachusetts, Nebraska, Arizona, Oregon and Maine. More than 57,000 households in 223 tribal communities will receive approximately 100 gallons of fuel per household to help ease the burden of struggling to heat homes during the harsh winter months.

Granado noted that the program began after the voices of tribal leaders were heard “loud and clear” as they expressed the need for help with heating oil to keep their families warm.

“At CITGO and our parent company, we take social responsibility seriously. We not only consider it our obligation to help, we also consider it a privilege to assist those who are struggling every day to make ends meet,” Granado told those assembled at the ceremony.

In addition to providing direct grants for heating oil assistance, the program provides some of the tribal communities with wood, propane, electricity or natural gas for homes that do not use heating oil.

“The number of people who must suffer through the winter without sufficient resources to keep themselves and their families warm is staggering,” Granado said. “As you can see, the program has grown rapidly. The fact that so many people are suffering makes us sad, but it also makes us very happy to help communities that struggle through some of the most difficult winters. We consider it a great opportunity to be able to ease the burdens that you and your families face during those cold winter months.”

“We hope the day will come when the need for help with heating your homes will not be necessary,” Granado added. “This is our desire for the future, but until that day comes, you can count on The CITGO-Venezuela Heating Oil Program to be there for you.”

“We look forward to continuing our relationship with the Native American people and again, for CITGO, PDVSA and the Venezuelan people, it is a privilege to serve you,” he concluded.

“What is so unfortunate is that our first Americans are so often our last Americans when it comes to help with high costs of heat and healthcare,” Kennedy said. “We are proud to partner with CITGO to deliver this assistance to so many families in such a great need.”

“So many tribes of people from all over the U.S. have come together because of us and this program,” Ambassador Alvarez said. “It's a great experience and a lot of help that is truly needed.  We are giving a significant amount, but it's not enough.”