Valero benefit golf classic for children raises $28,000
Krotz Springs, January 27, 1999 -
Valero Refining Company today presented two local children's charities, the Deaf Action Center and the Opelousas Area Cerebral Palsy Clinic, with checks of $14,000 each. The proceeds were raised from the Second Biennial Valero Benefit for Children Golf Classic, which was held in San Antonio in November.
The Golf Classic raised a total of $425,000 in proceeds that were divided among selected children's charities located in the six cities and the states where Valero has operations. As host sponsor, Valero committed a gift of $25,000, and other corporations the company does business with donated pledges ranging from $1,000 to $10,000. Valero's first fundraising tournament, held in 1996, raised $275,000.
Valero employees nominated the children's charities based on which agencies they believed would provide the most benefits to disadvantaged or disabled children. An employee committee evaluated each nominated charity and made the final selection of the award recipients. Each agency was required to demonstrate how the funds would be used for specific programs targeted to children.
"At Valero, we've always strived to build a brighter future for our neighbors in all of our communities, and no future is more important than our children's" said John Edmunds, vice president and general manager of Valero's Krotz Springs refinery. "We need to support these organizations because they are working to make a difference in the lives of children in a time when too many have grown to believe that a successful, happy life is out of their reach."
Valero Energy Corporation is a Fortune 500 company based in San Antonio, with 2,500 employees and 1997 revenues of approximately $6 billion.
The company currently owns and operates five refineries in Texas, Louisiana, and New Jersey with a combined throughput capacity of approximately 735,000 BPD. Valero is recognized throughout the industry as a leader in the production of premium, environmentally clean products such as reformulated gasoline. CARB Phase II gasoline, low-sulphur diesel and oxygenates. The company also has an extensive wholesale bulk and rack marketing business and markets in more than 30 states through 170 terminals.
Deaf Action Center
This center is a non-profit charitable organization working in conjunction with the Diocese of Lafayette. It is the nearest facility in the area that helps with hearing and visually impaired children. For 30 years, the organization has also sponsored a yearly summer camp, "The Cajun Camp," for the children and their siblings. It is a two-week camp that includes camps, food and many different activities for the children. The Camp is presently operating on a reduced budget.
Opelousas Area Cerebral Palsy Clinic
The mission statement of the Opelousas Area Cerebral Palsy Clinic is to help children and adults with cerebral palsy achieve independence by providing physical therapy treatments free of charge.
This independence enables their clients a better opportunity to achieve a more successful, productive life.