CITGO Lemont Golf Outing Raises $750K For MDA

LEMONT, IL — CITGO Petroleum Corporation hosted the annual Muscular Dystrophy Association Driving for a Cure golf outing for employees and contractors from the CITGO Lemont Refinery. This year, on June 26, more than 450 golfers raised a record-breaking $755,542 for the MDA, according to the refinery.

The outing was held at the Cog Hill Golf and Country Club and the event included 18 holes of golf and a special dinner reception where an MDA family is traditionally asked to share their story and talk about the role the MDA plays in their fight against the effects of muscle-debilitating diseases.

"The Driving for a Cure Golf Outing is truly a special event because of the MDA family represented. They are what this is all about and it's an honor and a privilege for CITGO to contribute to the cause for a cure through this fundraiser," Jim Cristman, CITGO Vice President, Refining, said in a release.

All locally-raised dollars are spent locally through the MDA. The refinery said life-saving research programs at Lurie Children's Hospital, Northwestern University and the University of Illinois will benefit. One example of the impact of this policy is former MDA Goodwill Ambassador for Illinois Lizzie Chamberlain who annually kicks off the golf outing by singing the national anthem.

"This was the first year that Liz was not able to attend and sing at the outing because she is receiving a new treatment that the FDA recently approved for her form of muscular dystrophy. It was the MDA that helped fund the beginning stages of the research that brought this treatment to fruition," Amanda Konopka, MDA Director of Distinguished Events, said in a release.

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