CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – April 10, 2019 – The 36th annual Special Olympics Area 2 South Texas Spring Games Presented by CITGO took place Saturday, April 6, 2019, marking a 26 year partnership between CITGO and the Special Olympics. 
 
For 21 consecutive years, CITGO has served as presenting sponsor of the Spring Games, where approximately 600 athletes from 16 area counties converge at Flour Bluff High School in Corpus Christi to compete.
 
“At CITGO, we value our long history with Special Olympics and admire the organization’s dedication to providing opportunities for all athletes to compete, regardless of age or ability,” said Trina C. Martinez, Vice President and General Manager of the CITGO Corpus Christi Refinery. “The Spring Games is an event that our CITGO volunteers are committed to and truly look forward to being a part of every year as they put in countless hours assisting the athletes to ensure the day is special for each and every competitor.”
 
In the last three years CITGO Corpus Christi Refinery volunteers gave more than 500 hours of their time to Special Olympics activities. In addition to the yearly Area 2 Spring Games, CITGO Corpus Christi has supported several Special Olympics events, including a family night, an annual conference and a fire truck pull, with the goal of improving quality of life and encouraging camaraderie among Special Olympics athletes. 
 
“Making life better for the community is a goal that Special Olympics Texas and CITGO both share,” said Alice Fulton-Garza of Special Olympics Texas. “CITGO has supported Special Olympics Texas for more than two decades, and the efforts of its Corpus Christi volunteers help make the Area 2 Spring Games a fun and fulfilling competition for our athletes.”
 
Special Olympics Texas creates opportunities for more than 44,000 children and adults with intellectual disabilities throughout the Lone Star State to participate in physical fitness activities and build friendships. The Area 2 Spring Games are one of more than 300 Special Olympics Texas competitions held yearly across the state. Volunteers from the CITGO Corpus Christi Refinery help escort teams during opening ceremonies, run track and field events, serve as timekeepers and congratulate competitors.
 
 
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 on average in support of the local economy through salaries, services and taxes. With a crude refining capacity of approximately 165,000 barrels-per-day (bpd) and a versatile product mix, which includes an average of 4.2 million gallons of gasoline, the CITGO Corpus Christi Refinery is one of the most sophisticated and efficient fuel and petrochemical refineries in the nation. In addition to producing high-quality fuels for a network of more than 300 independently owned and operated CITGO branded stations in the State of Texas and thousands more across the country, CITGO Corpus Christi refinery employees are dedicated to making a positive difference in their communities. CITGO Corpus Christi employees volunteer more than 2,500 hours on average annually to support causes and organizations including United Way, Charlie's Place, Muscular Dystrophy Association, The Miracle
League, Catholic Charities, the Special Olympics, Hans and Pat Suter Park and Adopt-A-Beach Clean Up, among many others. For more information, visit www.citgocorpuschristi.com. 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.