CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – Nov. 11, 2015 –CITGO Petroleum Corporation was honored by the Instituto de Cultura Hispanica de Corpus Christi for its long-standing support during the institute’s 39th annual Noche de los Colores gala celebration.

“We’re tremendously grateful for partners like CITGO who help us to promote a better understanding of the diverse Hispanic cultures represented in our community,” said Dr. Mary Jane Garza, president-elect of the Instituto de Cultura Hispanica de Corpus Christi Board of Directors.  “While the gala allows us to celebrate our sponsors and accomplishments, its proceeds also benefit the museum and yearly scholarship awards for Del Mar College and Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi students.”

For nearly 15 years, CITGO has bolstered the institute’s goals of cultural awareness and education. Since 1976, the institute has educated the Corpus Christi community about Spanish and Hispanic American culture and history in the United States through art, literature, history and folklore. Encouraging academic excellence is also a key aim of the institute, which awards college scholarships to exemplary Corpus Christi high school seniors who understand and champion the institute’s mission.

“Preserving culture and traditions is so important for future generations to understand their heritage,” said CITGO Corpus Christi Refinery Vice President & General Manager Art Klein. “CITGO is committed to supporting vibrant community organizations like the Instituto de Cultura Hispanica de Corpus Christi that make Corpus Christi strong.”

The CITGO Corpus Christi Refinery recently commemorated its 80th year of operations in the city of Corpus Christi.  It is a significant contributor to community programs and initiatives throughout the city. Supporting the Instituto de Cultura Hispanica de Corpus Christi Museum is just one of the many ways that CITGO has demonstrated its ongoing commitment to supporting the communities in which its many employees, Marketers and Retailers live and work. In 2014, CITGO employees in Corpus Christi volunteered more than 2,940 hours of their personal time to local and national charities.

About CITGO Corpus Christi Refinery
The CITGO Corpus Christi Refinery provides more than 1,000 jobs locally, while generating more than $345 million per year in support of the local economy through salaries, services and taxes. In addition to producing high-quality fuels for its network of nearly 6,000 independently owned and operated CITGO branded stations across the country, Corpus Christi refinery employees make a major positive impact on the community. Over the last five years, CITGO and its employees have provided almost 13,000 volunteer hours and nearly $6 million in support of community organizations such as United Way, Charlie's Place, Muscular Dystrophy Association, The Miracle League, Catholic Charities, the Special Olympics and a variety of environmental and preservation initiatives, such as the revitalization of the Gateway to Corpus Christi, Hans and Pat Suter Park and Adopt-A-Beach Clean Up. For more information on the CITGO Corpus Christi Refinery, visit www.citgorefining.com/corpus-christi. 

About CITGO
CITGO, based in Houston, is a refiner, transporter and marketer of transportation fuels, lubricants, petrochemicals and other industrial products. The company is owned by CITGO Holding, Inc., an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Petróleos de Venezuela, S.A., the national oil company of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. For more information, visit www.CITGO.com.

For further information: Fernando J. Garay, fgaray@citgo.com, Ph. 1-832-486-1489