Local children’s charities nominated by employees received a total of $255,000 from the Valero Meraux Refinery who helped raise the funds through the Valero Energy Foundation and the company’s sponsorship of the 2018 Valero Texas Open and Benefit for Children in San Antonio.
“This is just one of several Valero locations that will proudly distribute funds to children’s charities throughout the United States this year,” said Jack Merrill, Vice President and General Manager of the Valero Meraux Refinery. “These gifts enable our community agencies to continue their good work for the many children they serve. We appreciate all that these agencies do to improve children’s lives. And it gives us great joy to be able to support the children of St. Bernard Parish and the surrounding areas once again.”
Thanks to the overwhelming support of Valero’s business partners and sponsors, the Valero Texas Open raised a record $12 million to be distributed to charities throughout the United States where Valero has major operations. With this year’s result, the event has raised an all-time total of more than $138 million, making it one of the most charitable tournaments on the PGA TOUR.
Valero has extended its contract with the PGA TOUR as title sponsor of the Valero Texas Open another 10 years, through 2028. Agencies selected to receive Benefit for Children dollars each year are nominated and selected by Valero employees.
The 2018 Valero Benefit for Children local recipients are:
- St Bernard Volunteers for Family & Community Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . $5,000
- St. Bernard Gives Back . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $5,000
- Driven Youth Organization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $5,000
- St. Bernard Kiwanis Foundation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $5,000
- East St. Tammany Rainbow Child Care Center, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . $5,000
- Lighthouse Ranch for Boys . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $5,000
- Boys & Girls Clubs of Southeast Louisiana . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $5,000
- Families Helping Families of S. East Louisiana . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $5,000
- Roots of Music . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $5,000
- CASA New Orleans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $10,000
- Raintree Children and Family Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $15,000
- Ronald McDonald House Charites of South Louisiana . . . . . . . . . . . .$15,000
- St. Bernard Parish School Board Special Olympics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $25,000
- St. Bernard Battered Women’s Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$25,000
- The Arc of Greater New Orleans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$25,000
- Community Center of St. Bernard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $25,000
- Liberty’s Kitchen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $30,000
- Santa on the Bayou Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $40,000
“We are all fueled by giving and what our gifts mean to the hundreds of charities across the U.S. where Valero has major operations,” said Martin Parrish, Valero Vice President-Alternative Fuels, who headed up Valero’s efforts in this year’s tournament. “All of this is possible because of the generous support of our sponsors, employees, and volunteers who believe in the mission of helping people, especially children.”
