LEMONT, Ill. – Aug. 31, 2016 – CITGO Petroleum Corporation and Special Olympics Illinois took to the highways of Illinois for the World’s Largest Truck Convoy® to help raise awareness and funds for Special Olympics’ year-round programs for people with intellectual disabilities. On August 27, the Northern Illinois leg of the 2016 World’s Largest Truck Convoy® began in Hoffman Estates and brought trucks, trailers, buses and other transport vehicles on a 30-mile loop along Route 59/90 West to Interstate 90 and Route 47 before returning for food, music and fun. This year, CITGO was the Official Fuel Supplier of the World’s Largest Truck Convoy.
 
Bringing together Special Olympics athletes and families in law enforcement and the trucking industry, the World’s Largest Truck Convoy® was founded in 2001 as a way to increase public awareness of Special Olympics’ efforts to build stronger communities where everyone can get involved. In 2015, 139 trucks took part in the Convoy, raising $43,000 for the athletes of Special Olympics Illinois.

Spectators at the World’s Largest Truck Convoy® had the opportunity to get a close-up view of a CITGO fire truck, normally used to protect the grounds of the CITGO Lemont Refinery, and representatives from the refinery were on hand to distribute gas cards and goody bags. 
 
“The CITGO Lemont Refinery marks its 90th year of operations in 2016, and as a long-time member of the Lemont community, we believe we have a responsibility to be a good neighbor to our friends throughout Illinois,” said Jim Cristman, vice president and general manager of the CITGO Lemont Refinery. “Taking part in the World’s Largest Truck Convoy® is one of many ways our refinery is celebrating this milestone anniversary with our community partners this year.”
 
“Since 2005, the World’s Largest Truck Convoy® has raised more than $440,000 for Special Olympics Illinois, with more than 600 trucks taking to the road to help build inclusive communities,” said Dave Breen, CEO of Special Olympics Illinois. “CITGO has been a supporter of Special Olympics activities for more than 20 years, and its investment of both time and money has reaped dividends for our organization.”
 
The relationship between CITGO and Special Olympics is built around a mutual passion for making everyone feel welcome and included. Last year, CITGO served as the official fuel sponsor for the Special Olympics Unified Relay Across America, which brought the Flame of Hope from Greece to Los Angeles for the 2015 Special Olympics World Summer Games. CITGO provided fuel for 36 support vehicles on the three simultaneous routes that passed the Flame of Hope throughout the United States.
 
The Northern Illinois leg of the Convoy will continue on October 8, with a 22-mile loop starting and ending at the Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre in Tinley Park. For more information on the World’s Largest Truck Convoy®, visit www.soill.org/truck-convoy. 

About Special Olympics Illinois
Special Olympics Illinois is a not-for-profit organization offering year-round training and competition in 19 sports for more than 22,000 athletes with intellectual disabilities and more than 20,000 Young Athletes ages 2-7 with and without intellectual disabilities. Special Olympics transforms the lives of people with intellectual disabilities, allowing them to realize their full potential in sports and in life. Special Olympics programs enhance physical fitness, motor skills, self-confidence, social skills and encourage family and community support. If you are interested in learning more about Special Olympics Illinois, volunteering or providing financial support to help make Special Olympics programs possible, contact your local Special Olympics agency, call 800-394-0562 or visit our website at www.soill.org. 

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.