CITGO Announces Finalists of the Eighth Edition of its Bronx Social Grants Program

BRONX, N.Y., October 1, 2015 /3BL Media/ – CITGO Petroleum Corporation recently announced the more than 30 local community organizations that became grant finalists in the eighth year of its Bronx Social Program as part of its continued commitment to social initiatives in the South Bronx. The 2015-2016 finalists represent a diverse mix of focus areas, including arts and culture, education, community empowerment, environment and health. The full list of this year’s finalists can be found at CITGO.com.‎

Together with community leaders, CITGO is dedicated to improving the lives of the people of the South Bronx as part of its ongoing commitment to supporting the underprivileged, in line with the social responsibility principles of its ultimate shareholder, Petroleos de Venezuela, S.A., the national oil company of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.

“At CITGO we believe it is our social obligation to use the strength of our resources to improve the lives of those who are most in need,” said CITGO President & CEO Nelson P. Martinez. “For almost a decade we have worked with South Bronx-based organizations to change lives and make this community stronger,” he said.

This year marks the 10th year of‎ programs to support the Bronx. On September 2005, the late President Hugo Chavez of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela visited the South Bronx, where he met with community residents and began a dialogue of people-to-people cooperation. Since then, the solidarity of the people of Venezuela with the South Bronx community has been expressed through the CITGO-Venezuela Heating Oil Program and the Bronx Social Grants Program.

CITGO created the Bronx Social Programs in 2007 to promote a brighter future for the South Bronx, where more than 250,000 residents live below the poverty line in the poorest congressional district in the United States. Since their inception, the Bronx Social Grants Program have provided more than $9.6 million in grants to nearly 90 local non-profit organizations that have benefitted more than 200,000 residents through programs that focus on a range of critical issues – including arts and culture, education, environmental learning, health and nutrition and financial literacy – all with the common goal of improving the living conditions and outlook for the region's residents.

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 Petroleos de Venezuela, S.A., the national oil company of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. For more information, visit www.CITGO.com.