CITGO and Houston Astros' Carlos Correa Team Up for SpringSpirit Baseball's Breakfast for Champions

HOUSTON, Feb. 6, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- CITGO Petroleum Corporation and Houston Astros' Star Shortstop and 2015 American League Rookie of the Year Carlos Correa teamed up for SpringSpirit Baseball's Eighth Annual Breakfast for Champions fundraiser. During the breakfast, Lance Berkman ? former Astro, fellow World Series Champion and SpringSpirit Board member ? led a conversation with Correa about what he has learned in his journey to become a professional baseball player.

SpringSpirit Baseball offers youth in Houston's Spring Branch neighborhood opportunities through sports, education and one-on-one mentoring programs, including after-school tutorials and college preparatory support, sports teams and summer camps. For four years, CITGO has partnered with SpringSpirit to offer afterschool programming and baseball clinics led by Major Leagues Baseball players.

"The next Carlos Correa could be a SpringSpirit alum. No matter where kids are from, they should all have an opportunity to excel on and off the field," said SpringSpirit Founder and President Kenny Baldwin. "We founded SpringSpirit so that Houston kids could have World Series-sized dreams and take the lessons of baseball with them to the classroom. Our partnership with CITGO and the Houston community enables us to provide that opportunity to more than 800 students and their families."

"Together, CITGO and SpringSpirit make a great team. With World Series winner Correa in our line-up, we can give these students the power to hit homeruns both on the field and in the classroom," said CITGO Vice President of Strategic Shareholder Relations, Government & Public Affairs Rafael Gomez. "Our partnership with SpringSpirit demonstrates our commitment to Houston's next generation of leaders. Every child deserves the opportunity to succeed, and CITGO is excited to provide the resources to help make this happen."

CITGO is dedicated to investing in the communities where it operates. CITGO partners with Houston Independent School District (ISD) and surrounding school districts, such as Alief and Spring Branch ISDs, to provide Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) grants that help students pursue higher education. In addition, CITGO supports both The National Energy Education Development Project to train employees to lead STEM workshops for local students and Girlstart which offers after-school programs for young women in Houston interested in pursuing a future in STEM.

About SpringSpirit
SpringSpirit Baseball provides safe pathways for the underserved youth of Spring Branch in northwest Houston to realize unique opportunities and personal goals through sports, education and mentoring programs. SpringSpirit Baseball hosts Breakfast for Champions annually to raise vital operating funds to serve over 800 students and their families through community programs such as after-school tutorials and college preparatory support, one-on-one mentoring programs, competitive sports teams and summer camps.  For more information visit SpringSpirit.org.

About CITGO
CITGO, based in Houston, is a refiner, transporter and marketer of transportation fuels, lubricants, petrochemicals and other industrial products. The company is owned by CITGO Holding, Inc., an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Petróleos de Venezuela, S.A., the national oil company of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. For more information, visit www.CITGO.com. 

SOURCE CITGO