CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – May 3, 2016 – CITGO Petroleum Corporation and the CITGO Corpus Christi Refinery are celebrating the life and legacy of the late local icon and Tejano star Selena Quintanilla Perez during the second annual Fiesta de la Flor festival. CITGO will again serve as the presenting sponsor of the two-day festival.
“Selena is extremely close to the heart of Corpus Christi, and we’re honored to keep her life and legacy alive through Fiesta de la Flor,” said Paulette Kluge, CEO of the Corpus Christi Convention & Visitors Bureau. “We’re expecting a greater attendance this year, and having support from CITGO allows us to expand the festival and make it more special for Selena fans.”
Outside of her music career, Selena was well known for her community contributions. She made such a lasting impact on Corpus Christi and, beyond that, Fiesta de la Flor has quickly become a must-attend event, attracting fans from Texas and all over the world. In 2015, Fiesta de la Flor attracted more than 52,000 attendees from around the globe. This year’s festival, expected to bring a crowd of 70,000, features a lineup of Tejano and GRAMMY® Award winning artists, including Ramón Ayala, David Lee Garza and La Mafia. Festivalgoers will also have access to international artisans, food trucks and an interactive area for children. Volunteers from CITGO will be on hand to help the festival run smoothly.
In 2015, the festival contributed nearly $13 million to the local economy, and this year’s event is expected to bring even more economic benefits to the city. “As part of the Corpus Christi community, CITGO recognizes Fiesta de la Flor’s significance to the city. Not only is this a vibrant event that brings neighbors together to celebrate one of Corpus Christi’s favorite daughters, it is also a major source of economic growth. We’re excited to once again participate in Fiesta de la Flor, remembering Selena and contributing to the event’s success” said CITGO Corpus Christi Refinery Vice President and General Manager Art Klein. “
Supporting community events like Fiesta de la Flor is a prime example of how CITGO and its refineries give back to the communities in which its employees live and work. In operation for more than 80 years, the CITGO Corpus Christi Refinery is a dedicated supporter of community initiatives that improve the lives of Corpus Christi residents, including Charlie’s Place, the Special Olympics South Texas Spring Games and the Corpus Christi NAACP Citywide Health Fair. Over the past two years, CITGO employees and volunteers have dedicated nearly 6,000 hours to these and other causes.
About CITGO Corpus Christi Refinery
The CITGO Corpus Christi Refinery, which celebrated 80 years of operations in 2015, 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 5,500 independently owned and operated CITGO branded stations across the country, Corpus Christi refinery employees make a major positive impact on the community. In 2015 alone, CITGO employees in Corpus Christi volunteered more than 2,900 hours of their personal time to local and national charities. Since 2013, the CITGO Corpus Christi Refinery and its employees have provided more than 10,000 volunteer hours and approximately $3.3 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. The 80th anniversary of the Corpus Christi Refinery last year was preceded by the 70th anniversary of the CITGO Lake Charles Refinery in 2014 and is being followed by the 90th anniversary of the CITGO Lemont Refinery in 2016, with CITGO facilities marking three significant milestones in three consecutive years. 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.