Lemont CITGO Raises $250K for Muscular Dystrophy Association

Hundreds of employees from the and Cicero lubricants plant teamed up with the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) last month for the 16th Annual CITGO MDA Driving for a Cure Golf Scramble.

This year's event, held July 17 at Silver Lake Country Club in Orland Park, raised $256,686 to help put an end to neuromuscular diseases, according to a press release.

The total was $26,000 more than last year's event, CITGO officials said.

The money raised will fund hours of life saving research and valuable services to benefit MDA, as well as the MDA's Annual Summer Camp Program. Specially designed for young people with mobility challenges, the MDA camps provide participants with the rare opportunity to escape a world of limitations and enter into a community created exclusively for them and their needs.

"We are grateful for the support from our employees, businesses leaders, and neighbors for this year's event. MDA and its summer camps embody the CITGO principle of giving back to the local communities we serve," said Jim Cristman, Vice President of the CITGO Lemont Refinery. "Many people who attended this year's event have been to the local MDA camp and seen first-hand how life-changing the experience is for these brave kids. It is our hope that these events will allow more children to benefit from MDA's wonderful programs as we work to find a cure."

After a day of golf, guests attended a dinner and silent auction where they were personally thanked by MDA campers. Nicolas and Michael Piunti, two brothers who are MDA campers and ambassadors and have attended the outing for several years, thanked the event sponsors.

"We could never thank you enough for all of your help," said Nicholas Piunti. "We would not be able to go to summer camp without you. Camp is the best week of our lives and we cannot imagine a summer without it."

The CITGO Lemont Refinery employs more than 800 local residents on a full-time and contract basis. 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, according to a press release.

For more information on the CITGO Lemont Refinery, visit www.citgorefining.com/Lemont .

The CITGO lubricants plant in Cicero has been a part of the community for 62 years, providing local jobs and supporting charities in the area, according to the release.

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