HOUSTON – CITGO Petroleum Corporation has partnered with 17 states that are a part of the Miss America Organization to promote awareness surrounding the key issues of education and social investment, energy assistance, environmental protection and conservation, and health. The Miss America state representatives serve as role models in their communities and are strong ambassadors for the CITGO brand, supporting events at locally owned CITGO branded locations in their respective states.
"The Miss America Organization is the world's largest provider of scholarship assistance for young women and also has a focus on community service and volunteering," said Alan Flagg, general manager of marketing for CITGO. "The goals of the program and the platforms of each state representative are well aligned with the social responsibility principles of CITGO, so working with the winners to reach out to local communities is a perfect match."
CITGO will work with state winners Amanda Mason (New York), Kaitlyn Tarpey (Connecticut), Amy Crain (Arkansas), Terrin Thomas (Indiana), Haley Williams (Michigan), Paula Mae Kuiper (Wisconsin), Brittany Smith (Illinois), Shelby Thompson (Tennessee), Cara McCollum (New Jersey), Amanda Narciso (Massachusetts), Annie Rosellini (Pennsylvania), Desiree Williams (Virginia), Christina Denny (Maryland), Samantha Russo (New Hampshire), Miranda Renee Harrison (West Virginia), Kristin Korda (Maine) and Myrrhanda Jones (Florida), as well as local Miss America representatives.
CITGO and its network of local marketers and retailers have held several events with local Miss America state winners, including the Virginia Beach Neptune Festival with Miss Virginia; anti-bullying presentations at Long Island schools with Miss New York; a CITGO Customer Appreciation Day in Kingston with Miss New York; a benefit for the Racine County Food Bank with Miss Wisconsin; and an appearance at the Racine Fourth Fest Fireworks with Miss Wisconsin, Miss Racine, Miss Kenosha and Miss Milwaukee.
"Because each of the nearly 6,000 CITGO-branded stations is independently owned, CITGO understands how important it is that these local businesses are connected to their communities," added Flagg. "Working with these wonderful young ladies helps provide that connection, while also providing platforms to discuss important issues such as education and healthy lifestyles."
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 Petroleos de Venezuela, S.A., the national oil company of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.