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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 28, 2016

2016 Valero Texas Open’s Birdies For Charity® Distributes over $2.2M

Over $2.2 Million in Charitable Contributions Distributed And One Lucky Donor Wins Ford Mustang

SAN ANTONIO, TX – The first-annual Birdies Breakfast of Champions took place this morning, Monday, June 27 at Brick House Tavern. Representatives from over 100 organizations -- charities and program sponsors -- from San Antonio, Austin and Corpus Christi attended the event as funds raised through the eight month-long Birdies for Charity campaign were distributed to seventy-two (72) participating agencies. More than $2.2M of this year’s $2.77M fundraising total was presented to a wide-variety of worthy causes.

The Birdies for Charity® campaign is a charitable initiative organized and supported by the Valero Texas Open, providing over 150 charity organizations throughout the greater San Antonio community and beyond with a fun and unique fundraising platform.

Individuals who made pledges or monetary contributions to Birdies for Charity had the chance to participate in one of several give-away contests provided by the Valero Texas Open.

GUESS THE BIRDIES CONTEST

Although no donor correctly guessed the exact number of birdies made during the Valero Texas Open – 1,834 birdies – a random draw of the 3,300 donors resulted in Marlo Branham winning a Stay-and-Play Package at the J.W. Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa and TPC San Antonio. Branham made a contribution to the Birdies for Charity campaign in support of Communities In Schools of San Antonio.

DONOR ATTENDANCE CONTEST

As has become a Birdies for Charity tradition, donors who attend at least one day of the Valero Texas Open (Thursday-Sunday) were entered into a grand prize drawing to win a two-year lease on a brand-new 2016 Ford Mustang courtesy of South Texas Ford Dealers.

At the conclusion of the Birdies Breakfast of Champions, representatives from South Texas Ford Dealers together with the Valero Texas Open surprised Joe Karolefski with the keys to his new Ford Mustang.

“I’ve always wanted a Ford Mustang but would talk myself out of it. This is great... I finally get one!” explained Karolefski, who made a contribution to the Bulverde Humane Society through Birdies for Charity and attended the Valero Texas Open.

By winning the Donor Attendance contest, Karolefski also earned Bulverde Humane Society an additional contribution of $20,000 from the Valero Texas Open.

President of Bulverde Humane Society, Tom Blacklock and his wife were moved by the surprise contribution awarded through this contest.

“This means so much and will do great things for our organization,” said Blacklock.

As participating Birdies for Charity organizations continue to finalize their annual collections in the weeks ahead, the remaining funds raised through the campaign will be distributed by the Valero Texas Open. Birdies for Charity, thanks to its corporate supporters, is able to deliver 100% of all funds raised to participating organizations.

Please visit www.ValeroTexasOpen.com to learn more about the Valero Texas Open and its Birdies for Charity program.

The next edition of the Valero Texas Open is scheduled to take place April 17-23, 2017 at TPC San Antonio.

Click to download images from today’s event: https://valerotexasopen.sharefile.com/d-s8a7ed7bde7b44ae9

ABOUT VALERO

Valero Energy Corporation, through its subsidiaries (collectively, Valero), is a multinational manufacturer and marketer of petroleum-based and low-carbon liquid transportation fuels and petrochemical products, and sells its products primarily in the United States (U.S.), Canada, the United Kingdom (U.K.), Ireland and Latin America. Valero owns 15 petroleum refineries located in the U.S., Canada and the U.K. with a combined throughput capacity of approximately 3.2 million barrels per day. Valero is a joint venture member in Diamond Green Diesel Holdings LLC, which owns two renewable diesel plants located in the U.S. Gulf Coast region with a combined production capacity of approximately 1.2 billion gallons per year, and Valero owns 12 ethanol plants located in the U.S. Mid-Continent region with a combined production capacity of approximately 1.6 billion gallons per year. Valero manages its operations through its Refining, Renewable Diesel, and Ethanol segments. Please visit investorvalero.com for more information.

ABOUT VALERO IN THE COMMUNITY

Valero Energy Corporation, through its subsidiaries (collectively, Valero), and the Valero Energy Foundation are committed to improving the quality of life in communities where Valero has major operations. In 2023, Valero, its employees and the foundation collectively generated more than $77 million in charitable support through direct/in-kind donations, fundraising and volunteerism. Valero employees logged more than 127,000 volunteer hours in 2023 for hundreds of projects in their communities. Valero provides funding to a variety of nonprofit agencies for programs and services supporting education, basic needs, health care and civic initiatives.  Through the overwhelming support of sponsors, the foundation’s signature programs, the Valero Texas Open and Benefit for Children, generated more than $23 million raised in 2023 for charities across the United States.

ABOUT THE VALERO TEXAS OPEN

The Valero Texas Open is the sixth-oldest professional tournament in golf worldwide, the third-oldest on the PGA TOUR and the longest held in the same city. In 2022, the tournament celebrated its 100th anniversary.

Its list of champions includes some of the greatest names in golf history: Walter Hagen, Byron Nelson, Ben Hogan, Sam Snead, Arnold Palmer, Ben Crenshaw, Hale Irwin, Lee Trevino, Nick Price, Justin Leonard, Zach Johnson, Adam Scott, Jimmy Walker, Jordan Spieth and 2019, 2023 champion Corey Conners to name a few.

Since Valero became title sponsor in 2002, the tournament has become a leader in charitable fundraising among PGA TOUR events. The Valero Texas Open, together with its Benefit for Children and Champions fore Charity initiatives, has contributed more than $232 million to hundreds of worthy charities since inception. Please visit www.ValeroTexasOpen.com for more information.

2016 Valero Texas Open’s Birdies For Charity® Distributes over $2.2M

Media Contacts

Stephanie Sage
Valero Texas Open
Director, Marketing & Community Relations

210.345.3839 office

Lee Patterson
Valero Texas Open
Director, Media Relations

704.913.1088 mobile