Local children’s charities received a total of $550,000 from employees and business partners of the Valero St. Charles Refinery, who helped raise the funds through sponsorship of the 2013 Valero Texas Open and Benefit for Children Golf Classic in San Antonio. 
“This is just one of several Valero locations that will proudly distribute funds to children’s charities this year. These gifts enable our community agencies to continue their good work for the many children they serve,” said Ralph Phillip, vice president and general manager of Valero St. Charles Refinery. “We appreciate all that these agencies do to improve children’s lives. It gives us great joy to support the children of Louisiana once again.”
Thanks to the generosity of Valero’s business partners and sponsors, the Valero Texas Open remains one of the most charitable tournaments on the PGA TOUR. This year nationwide, Valero will distribute a record $10 million to children’s charities in the areas where it does business. Agencies selected to receive Benefit for Children dollars each year are nominated and selected by Valero employees.
The checks presented ranged in amounts from $10,000 to $90,000 and will further the terrific work being done by agencies with a proven track record for children.
The 2013 Valero Benefit for Children local recipients, in no particular order, are:
• Children’s Hospital    
• St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital    
• Boys Town Louisiana    
• Second Harvest Food Bank    
• Child Advocacy Services
• March of Dimes Foundation    
• Youth Empowerment Project
• St. Michael Special School    
• Muscular Dystrophy Association
• Covenant House New Orleans
• Louisiana Pediatric Cardiology Foundation    
• Louisiana Lions League for Crippled Children, Inc.    
• Brave Heart     
• Raintree Services, Inc.    
• American Heart Assoc.    
• The Sunshine Kids Foundation
• Cystic Fibrosis Foundation    
• GNO Therapeutic Riding Center
• Special Olympics    
• Troop C Grant A Wish    
• TARC    
• St. Mary’s Residential Training School    
• Boys Hope Girls Hope of Greater New Orleans    
• MacDonell United Methodist Children’s Services, Inc.    
• St. John the Baptist Public School District Adapted Physical Education Dept/Club    
• Louisiana Hemophilia Foundation    
• Cancer Services of Greater Baton Rouge    
• Camp Challenge    
• Council on Alcohol and Drug Abuse for GNO    
• Down Syndrome Awareness Group    
• Unlocking Autism    
• Friends Helping Kids    
• The Center for Family and Youth
• Services DBA Creative family Solutions    
• Blessed to be a Blessing
• International Ministries Inc.
• Jerusalem Shriners Hospital
• Patient Transportation Fund
• New Orleans Children’s Health Project