CITGO, Houston Astros José Altuve Join Forces with SpringSpirit Baseball at Special Baseball Clinic

HOUSTON, April 8, 2015 /3BL Media/ – CITGO Petroleum Corporation and Houston Astros second baseman and Batting Champion José Altuve joined forces with SpringSpirit Baseball to conduct a special baseball clinic for approximately 75 elementary and middle school children at SpringSpirit Baseball headquarters, in northwest Houston, on Tuesday.

SpringSpirit Baseball, a non-profit organization founded in 2010, mobilizes Spring Branch Independent School District community leaders and volunteers to find safe pathways for youth to realize life opportunities through education, sports, and mentoring programs.

“I especially enjoy sharing my passion for the game with young children, hopefully motivating them to be strong athletes and good students.  Because of that, I think the impact that an organization such as SpringSpirit can have in the lives of our children is truly invaluable,” Altuve, a native of Venezuela, said.

CITGO offered a grant to SpringSpirit Baseball in the fall of 2014. Their after school programs help reinforce Spring Branch ISD's "T-2-4 Initiative" aimed at doubling the number of students who complete a technical certificate, military training, or a two-year or four-year college degree.

“We at CITGO feel fortunate to partner with organizations such as SpringSpirit Baseball that promote education and sports in our communities and with individuals like José Altuve who are great role models for our children,” said CITGO President and CEO Nelson P. Martínez.

Each year, CITGO invests in social programs that help ease the burden of many families across the country through initiatives such as the Heating Oil Program, the Fueling Education campaign, and CITGO's 29-year-long support of the Muscular Dystrophy Association. In the area of education in Houston, CITGO partners with the city's largest independent school district, Houston ISD, and with Alief and Spring Branch ISDs, which neighbor the corporate headquarters building, with initiatives such as Back to School Supply Drives, sponsorship of mobile librarian “Bess the Book Bus”, among others. In addition, CITGO employees and those at nearly 6,000 local independently owned and operated CITGO branded stations provide thousands of volunteer hours and millions of dollars to help organizations in their own communities.

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