CITGO Corner Marts Raise $20,000 for Children

GREENVILLE, S.C. -- Employees at the 31 CITGO Corner Mart convenience stores across South Carolina rallied their customers, suppliers and communities to raise $20,000 for the local chapter of the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA). Employees topped last year's fundraising results by more than $8,000 through paper shamrock sales and other in-store fundraising efforts, the company reported.

All of the money raised will stay in South Carolina to support children and families touched by neuromuscular disease through programs such as MDA summer camps.

"The outpouring of support provided this year by our customers and employees is truly amazing," Kenneth Cosgrove, marketing manager with CITGO Corner Mart operator Piedmont Petroleum, said in a released statement. "Each year, we challenge ourselves to help as many children as possible in support of the Muscular Dystrophy Association, an organization which makes a huge impact on the lives of our neighbors, customers and friends. All of the $20,000 raised will stay in our community to help local families, underlining our commitment to the great state of South Carolina."

Customers of CITGO Corner Mart stores bought shamrocks during the annual MDA Shamrocks Against Dystrophy program, and four CITGO Corner Mart stores also raised more than $1,000 each through bake sales, change collections and an ongoing commitment to inspire their community to help local children in need, according to the company.

"We know these families, and we know how much they appreciate the services of our local MDA chapter," said Angela Bennett, manager of a CITGO Corner Mart located in Simpsonville, S.C., which raised more than $2,000. "It is great to see how our customers really want to help kids be kids and forget -- even just for a week -- some of the challenges they face every day."

The money raised this year will support the Greenville chapter of the Muscular Dystrophy Association. Its local summer camp, Camp Bethelwoods in York, S.C., provides children with debilitating diseases the joys and adventures that most take for granted, the company stated. Through the CITGO Corner Mart fundraising, enough money was raised to send 25 children to camp this summer.

"The efforts of Piedmont Petroleum and the CITGO Corner Mart team makes a huge impact on our program and allows us to reach more families across the community," said Tonya Lambrecht, executive director with the Greenville, S.C. MDA chapter. "Raising money to send children to our MDA summer camp this year will create once-in-a-lifetime experiences for 25 local children and their families. For that, and the continued support of our programs, we are truly thankful."

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