Lemont, Ill. – March 26, 2019 – Employees and contractors at the CITGO Lemont Refinery recently participated in a fourth annual softball tournament in support of the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) and its MDA Summer Camp in Hudson, Illinois.
Taking place at the Edward Hospital Athletic and Event Center in Romeoville, 11 participating teams raised a total of $26,500 and will send 13 children to camp this summer. Described by campers as the “best week of the year,” Summer Camp is not only a fun and safe environment, but it is also an opportunity for children battling a muscle-related disease to gain confidence and build relationships.
“We can’t thank CITGO enough for committing to this event so that children can attend MDA Summer Camp,” said MDA Associate Executive Director Amanda Konopka. “A camper’s sense of independence grows just by attending, mainly because it may be the first time they receive care from someone other than their parents, which can be scary.”
CITGO Lemont Vice President and General Manager Dennis Willig said the annual softball tournament is a win/win event because it provides children with the opportunity to attend MDA Summer Camp, and it’s a fun day for all of the participants. “At CITGO, we consider it an honor to be a long-time partner of the MDA and its mission of transforming the lives of people affected by muscular dystrophy,” said Willig.
About the CITGO Lemont Refinery
For more than 90 years, CITGO Lemont Refinery has employed more than 750 Chicago area residents on a full-time and contract basis in support of the local economy. In addition to producing high quality fuels for a large portion of the network of approximately 5,000 independently and locally-owned CITGO stations across the country, Lemont Refinery employees also make a major positive impact on the community. Each year, more than 2,500 volunteer hours and thousands of dollars are given in support of community programs such as Muscular Dystrophy Association, United Way and a variety of environmental and preservation programs. Operations at the Lemont Refinery began in 1925 with a major expansion, doubling the facility in 1933. Over the years, new units were added to meet the demand for a better quality of gas for automobiles, aviation fuel for WWII, and the production of asphalt.
About CITGO
Headquartered in Houston, Texas, CITGO Petroleum Corporation is a recognized leader in the refining industry with a well-known brand. CITGO operates three refineries located in Corpus Christi, Texas; Lake Charles, La.; and Lemont, Ill., and wholly and/or jointly owns 48 terminals, nine pipelines and three lubricants blending and packaging plants. With approximately 3,400 employees and a combined crude capacity of approximately 749,000 barrels-per-day (bpd), CITGO is ranked as the fifth-largest, and one of the most complex independent refiners in the United States. CITGO transports and markets transportation fuels, lubricants, petrochemicals and other industrial products and supplies a network of approximately 5,000 locally owned and operated branded retail outlets in 30 states and the District of Columbia. CITGO Petroleum Corporation is owned by CITGO Holding, Inc. For more information, visit www.CITGO.com.