/PRNewswire/ - Wisconsin-based CITGO Marketer, U.S. Venture, Inc., is making sure local children are clothed, clean, and well-read as they head back to school. On Aug. 20, U.S. Venture participated in "Being Cool for School," a back-to-school event organized by Menasha non-profit group Community Clothes Closet to provide clothes, personal hygiene products and school supplies to local children. U.S. Venture partnered with mobile literacy program Bess the Book Bus and Townsend Press to donate more than 1,800 books, along with other school supplies, to well over 1,000 children at the event.

U.S. Venture's participation in the program is part of "Bess the Book Bus Reading Pals," the fuel supplier's ongoing initiative with the nationwide literacy program, launched after a recent visit to Appleton, Wis. as part of a cross country tour sponsored in part by CITGO Petroleum Corporation. Bess the Book Bus made several stops in Wisconsin, including Janesville, Green Bay, Sheboygan, and West Bend, among others, to donate books and read to children. In total, Bess the Book Bus handed out more than 3,500 books to children across the state.

"Everyone at U.S. Venture was so inspired by the wonderful things Bess the Book Bus is doing on her tour, especially here in Wisconsin. We wanted to build upon the success of the recent tour to have an even greater impact on our local community," said Terri Green, Director of Community Engagement with U.S. Venture. "I'm pleased to say this event was an immense success. The look on the kids' faces as they loaded up their backpacks with not only the necessary supplies, but a brand new book, was priceless. We are confident that this program will help make children better prepared for the challenges of the school year and generate greater academic success."

As part of the Reading Pals program, U.S. Venture employees acted as storytellers during the "Being Cool for School" event, reading exciting and interactive stories aloud to children who wanted a break from waiting in line. While they were listening, children could also color on special Bess the Book Bus coloring sheets, provided by CITGO.

"We could not be more grateful to U.S. Venture and its employees – not only for their generous donation, but for the time they spent with the children, educating them about the value of a great book," said Diane Bishop, Executive Director at Community Clothes Closet. "The Bess the Book Bus Activity Zones were a perfect break for children. We look forward to working with U.S. Venture, Bess the Book Bus, and CITGO for many years to come."

For more information on U.S. Venture, visit www.USventure.com. For more information on the positive impact that CITGO has throughout Wisconsin, visit www.CITGO.com/Wisconsin.

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.

For more information visit www.CITGO.com.

CITGO Petroleum Corporation

CITGO Petroleum Corporation

Headquartered in Houston, Texas, CITGO Petroleum Corporation is a recognized leader in the refining industry with a well-known brand. CITGO operates three refineries located in Corpus Christi, Texas; Lake Charles, La.; and Lemont, Ill., and wholly and/or jointly owns 48 terminals, nine pipelines and three lubricants blending and packaging plants. With approximately 3,400 employees and a combined crude capacity of approximately 769,000 barrels-per-day (bpd), CITGO is ranked as the fifth-largest, and one of the most complex independent refiners in the United States. CITGO transports and markets transportation fuels, lubricants, petrochemicals and other industrial products and supplies a network of approximately 4,700 locally owned and operated branded retail outlets in 30 states and the District of Columbia. CITGO Petroleum Corporation is owned by CITGO Holding, Inc. For more information, visit www.CITGO.com. 

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