In its Seventh Year, CITGO-Venezuela Heating Oil Program Helps 400,000 Needy Americans http://venezuela-us.org/2011/12/13/in-its-seventh-year-citgo-venezuela-heating-oil-program-helps-400000-needy-americans/  CITGO President and CEO Alejandro Granado and Citizens Energy Chairman Joseph P. Kennedy II launched the seventh consecutive year of the CITGO-Venezuela Heating Oil Program today in New Jersey.The program will help more than 400,000 people this year in 25 U.S. states, including residents of over 250 homeless shelters, members of over 60 Native American tribes, families living in tenant-owned cooperatives and thousands of single-family households.CITGO President and CEO Alejandro Granado, who was joined by Camden Mayor Dana Redd at the launch. said: “Over the years, the program has become the most important energy assistance program by an oil company. For CITGO, it aligns with the humanitarian and solidarity principles endorsed by the government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela through its national oil company, Petróleos de Venezuela, S.A. (PDVSA) that we echo in everything we do.”“CITGO is very proud to mark the seventh anniversary of our Heating Oil Program. Increasing energy costs continue to affect the quality of life for millions of people and impact community organizations that provide critical social services. As an energy company, we believe it is our obligation to use the strength of our resources to help alleviate the burden for those struggling to pay for home heating costs,” said Granado. The 7th edition of the program was launched with a delivery of fuel to the Camden, N.J., row-house of a grandmother living on a limited income. Arlene Grier, who raised three children in her home on Merrimac Road, thanked Granado and Kennedy after they made a delivery of free heating oil to her home. “I want to thank CITGO and Citizens so much,” said Grier. “This helps a lot. Prices are going up but not my income, so I’m always having to decide between paying for food, heat, electricity, gas, or my mortgage. I wish other oil companies were as generous.”Since 2005, CITGO has invested more than $400 million in energy assistance to those in need. Last year alone, more than $60 million in heating oil was donated to low-income families and individuals. With higher costs for heating oil and reduced government funding for energy assistance programs, the demand this year is greater than ever. “We don’t want families to have to choose between heating their homes or buying basic necessities such as food or medicine. No one should be forced to make those types of decisions,” said Granado. “We are grateful that through our CITGO-Venezuela Heating Oil Program, we can make families’ lives a little warmer.”