When owning a car, it’s a necessity to put gas in your tank in order to get where you’re going, but it can be considered a chore. It’s the last thing you do after a long day at work or an annoyance when you’re in a rush. But, have you ever considered where and how that black gold ends up in the pump, nice and ready to go? It is the passion of those whom are in the STEM field that help to make your task a bit easier by getting it to your neighborhood convenience store. It is their passion to fuel you up!
But what if fueling up was also a fun way to give back to your community? CITGO has been taking the drag out of fueling up by using a percentage of sales from fuel stations to help your local community, all while you fuel up your car.
Here’s three ways you can use CITGO to help your local community:
1. Use a Spirit Pump
CITGO introduced specially themed and branded pumps called Spirit Pumps into their stations in 2016 to help foster philanthropy in local communities. A percentage of sales goes to the local charity or organization that the pump is themed after, and CITGO matches the amount raised with every pump. In 2016, these spirit pumps raised nearly $30,000 nationwide! By choosing to fuel up at a specially decorated pump, you too can do your part for your community – all while running the errand you always run.
2. Participate in #FuelItForward
Every day is full of little opportunities to invest in your local community, and CITGO’s Fuel It Forward initiative is here to help! Every month, customers are encouraged to donate to local animal shelters, food depositories or schools to help drive impact. You can even fuel it forward by doing things that improve the lives of people around you, like by paying it forward at a coffee shop or recognizing people for the hard work they do. By getting involved with #FuelItForward, you can help make your local community a better place, little by little, every day!
3. Participate in Holiday Donation Initiatives
While waiting for your car to fuel up, head into the convenience store to check out any holiday initiatives CITGO may have to offer. For example, the most recent initiative was the annual Shamrocks program that CITGO rolls out around St. Patrick’s Day every year. CITGO has been using these paper shamrocks to help raise money for MDA families in need for more than 30 years, and every purchase helps out an organization in need. So while you’re fueling up, take a peek into what’s going on in the convenience store next door – your small donation could help save a life, fund the elementary school in your area, help send your local sports team to a tournament and more.
CITGO is dedicated to helping those in the STEM field to fuel their passion. Kick-start your STEM education in high school at CITGO Innovation Academy in Corpus Christi, Texas. The academy helps prepare students for college programs and future careers in STEM fields. Students who complete the program receive anywhere from 12-30 hours of college credit.