CITGO Runners Take Part in ING NYC Marathon to Aid Simón Bolívar Foundation

HOUSTON, Nov. 5, 2009 --- Top executives from CITGO Petroleum Corporation competed in the ING New York City Marathon on Nov. 1 to raise funds for the Simón Bolívar Foundation.  The Foundation provides specialized medical assistance to low-income patients, mainly Venezuelan, who receive treatment in health centers in Argentina, Italy, the United States and other countries.

The Team CITGO runners, CITGO Chairman, President and CEO Alejandro Granado; Rosana de Granado, a member of the Simón Bolívar Foundation Board of Directors; CITGO Vice President Government and Public Affairs Daniel Cortez; and CITGO Manager Wholesale Region Sales Distillates Terry Sullivan, joined more than 43,000 athletes from around the world who completed the 26.2-mile event through the five boroughs of New York City, in what was the 40^th edition of this well-known marathon.

“We believe in building solidarity through selfless works, as it is in giving back that you truly receive.  At CITGO and our Simón Bolívar Foundation, we take this adage to heart by supporting the communities in which we operate in a multitude of ways, in alignment with the social development commitments of our shareholder, Petróleos de Venezuela, S.A. (PDVSA) the national oil company of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela ” Granado said.

The CITGO president added that this initiative has led to proposals for agreements between the Simón Bolívar Foundation and non-profit organizations in charge of the New York City marathon aimed at providing support to joint projects in health, education, and other social development areas within low-income communities.

The Simón Bolívar Foundation was created by CITGO in 2006. To date, it has served more than 240 patients, mostly Venezuelan., by facilitating medical assistance abroad for patients with critical health problems (75 cases), liver transplants (9 cases); bone marrow transplants (69 cases); and the distribution  of hearing aids and prosthetic devices for those in need (93 cases).

     CITGO, based in Houston, is a refiner, transporter and marketer of transportation fuels, lubricants, petrochemicals and other industrial products.  The company is owned by PDV America, 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

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