CITGO Lemont Refinery Helps Local Marines Bring Christmas Joy to Local Kids

LEMONT, Ill. – Feb. 13, 2017 /3BL Media/ – Employees and contractors at the CITGO Lemont Refinery joined forces this past holiday season with the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve’s Toys for Tots drive. Collections bins were placed throughout the refinery and over 600 unwrapped toys were collected for needy children in Will and Grundy Counties.
 
Since 1948, Marines have held Toys for Tots drives across America with the objective of bringing the joy of Christmas to underprivileged children. Often viewed as a way to unite the community, the area Marine Corps Reserve Unit always serves as the collection point for the toys – taking the lead on distribution. This year, members of TeamCITGO, the employee-driven volunteer program at CITGO, assisted local Marines in Joliet by helping to sort the collected toys and prepare them for delivery to the children who would otherwise not receive a gift during the holidays.
 
“The Toys for Tots initiative is a natural fit for our refinery because it allows our employees and contractors to band together around the simple act of giving – plus it’s another way for CITGO to reach out and contribute to the community,” said Jim Cristman, vice president and general manager of the CITGO Lemont Refinery.
 
For over 90 years, the CITGO Lemont Refinery has been an active member of the Lemont community and its surrounding areas. In addition to the Toys for Tots drive, the CITGO Lemont Refinery hosts other annual drives for the community during the year; for example, a supply drive for local victims of domestic violence in the spring and a food drive for area food pantries each fall. Also, each year, more than 2,500 volunteer hours and thousands of dollars are given in support of other community programs such as Muscular Dystrophy Association, United Way and a variety of environmental and preservation programs.

About the CITGO Lemont Refinery
For over 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 nearly 5,500 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. Petróleos de Venezuela, PDVSA, acquired 100% ownership of the refinery in 1997 and began operations as CITGO Lemont Refinery. For more information, visit www.citgorefining.com/Lemont.

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.