Valero Benicia Refinery Gives $375,000 to Local Children's Charities

(Editor's Note: The following information was received by Patch and is being reproduced here.)

The Valero Benicia Refinery announced today in a presentation ceremony held at the Benicia Veteran’s Memorial Building that 28 children’s charities, nominated by refinery employees, will be the recipients of grants totaling $375,000. The funds were raised through the 2013 Valero Texas Open and Benefit for Children Golf Classic, held in San Antonio, Texas, last April.

“Each year, these gifts enable our community agencies and organizations to provide a wide range of services for children,” said Vice President and General Manager John Hill. “We know these grants will benefit children a multitude of ways in the communities where our employees live, work and volunteer.”

The 2013 Benefit for Children Golf Classic, together with the Valero Texas Open, raised a record $10 million for charity, once again making the Valero Texas Open the top charitable tournament on the PGA TOUR and bringing the overall total raised during Valero's 12-year title sponsorship to $81.5 million. Dollars raised through these events are distributed to locations where Valero has operations; local employees then nominate the children’s charities for a possible grant.

“We truly appreciate our business partners and sponsors who join with us each year to raise these dollars,” added Hill. “We were pleased to have the opportunity to thank them at this morning’s event. We also thanked the representatives from the charities who are on the front line supporting children every day.”

Since 2001, the Valero Benicia Refinery has distributed nearly $4 million in Benefit for Children grants. The grants announced today range from $5,000 to $30,000. The 28 Valero Benefit for Children local grant recipients for 2013 are:

Bay Area Crisis Nursery – $15,000

The Crisis Nursery works to prevent the abuse and neglect of children by providing support to families who are in stress or crisis.

Benicia Community Action Council – $20,000

The Benicia CAC provides disadvantaged youth an opportunity to attend a special summer camp program and receive vocational training support.

Benicia Education Foundation – $25,000

Libraries and computer labs in all Benicia public schools will be fully operational thanks to the efforts of the Benicia Education Foundation and support from this grant.

Benicia Historical Museum – $10,000

The museum offers fourth grade students, and other children, the opportunity to experience living history demonstrations, tours, and outreach programs that enhance the California history curriculum.

Benicia Little League – $10,000

The League serves Benicia youth ages 5 through 18 and offers a Challenger Division for disabled youth. The League hopes to add automated external defibrillators (AEDs) to their field locations by next season and provide additional financial assistance to disadvantage kids.

Boy Scouts of America – Golden Empire Council - $10,000

This grant will support the completion of key upgrades at Camp Cole to bring the facility up to county safety and health standards, as well as for the purchase of safety equipment.

Boys and Girls Club of El Sobrante – $15,000

This organization supports teens age 13 through 18. It offers after school and weekend enrichment programs like reading, math, art, technology, and sports help children succeed in school and in life

Camp Taylor – $10,000

Camp Taylor operates free summer camps for children with heart disease. Complete, professional medical supervision is provided so special needs kids can participate in a wide range of traditional camp activities.

Child Haven – $15,000

The mission of Child Haven is to provide mental health services for children at risk in Solano County and neighboring counties. With early intervention, education, and targeted professional services children will receive the help they need.

Children’s Music and Arts Foundation – $5,000

This grant will provide scholarships, instrument repairs, music supplies, and the purchase of new equipment for the band program.

Continentals of Omega Boys & Girls Club – $20,000

Kids have a safe and positive place to learn and play as they receive training in academics, technology, nutrition, sports and much more at the Vallejo clubhouse.

Cordelia Tri-Valley Little League – $10,000

Funds will be used to replace fire-damaged equipment, improve facilities and provide more opportunities for more kids to participate in the program.

Cystic Fibrosis Foundation – NorCal Chapter – $5,000

This grant will go toward research and medical treatments for CF kids in the Bay Area pediatric care centers.

East Bay College Fund - $15,000

Students from low-income families and communities with historically low college attendance rates receive college access services, substantial scholarships, mentoring, on-going college counseling and life skills training to help them succeed.

Fighting Back Partnership - $15,000

This organization continues to support the needs of hundreds of kids each year. For over 20 years, Fighting Back Partnership has worked to dramatically reduce drug and alcohol use among Vallejo children, and reduce crime and violence.

Friends of Benicia Public Library – Children’s Library - $15,000

Color e-readers for include text-to-speech capabilities for disabled children, and self-loaded devices that help children read at varying speeds and abilities will be purchased with this grant.

Harbor House - $10,000

Harbor House offers after-school tutoring, a summer camp, and a youth leadership/job training program, and much more to economically challenged youth in Oakland.

Horseplay Therapeutic Riding Center - $10,000

These funds will support rider scholarships to lower-income mentally, physically and emotionally challenged kids.

Junior Achievement of Northern California- $10,000

Junior Achievement prepares young people for the real world by showing them how to manage money and apply entrepreneurial thinking to the workplace.

The Matt Garcia Foundation - $15,000

The dream of creating a positive and safe environment for youth continues through this organization’s efforts to support youth, stop crime, and strengthen the community of Fairfield.

Mission Solano- $15,000

The Bridges to Life Center offers transitional housing, a health center for kids and families, a daycare and pre-school, a children’s library, and more. These funds are designated support the day care program with food and materials.

Royal Family Kids Camp - $10,000

This unique weeklong camp provides a safe environment and positive experience, complete with lots of mentoring, for children ages 7 to 11 in foster care. Thanks to grants and donations, the camp is absolutely free.

Solano Coalition for Better Health - SKIP - $30,000

Solano Kids Insurance Program will use the funds to connect families to needed healthcare and dental services/resources for the children who qualify. SKIP also will continue to advocate children and families who need help to navigate the various health care and government systems.

Vacaville Neighborhood Boys & Girls Club - $20,000

Children are better able to realize their full potential as productive, responsible, and caring individuals through after school and summer enrichment programs.

Vacaville Swim Club - $10,000

Low-income families are offered scholarships and fee assistance for this athletic program that teaches children the importance of nutrition, sleep, personal responsibility, goal setting, sportsmanship and the value of hard work.

Vallejo Police Activities League (PAL) - $10,000

PAL provides scholarships for disadvantaged children and handicapped children to participate in its youth sports programs. Fees are waved for those students who could not otherwise afford to participate.

Voena – Voices of Eve ’N Angels - $10,000

Low-income children will have the opportunity to participate in one of the country's most successful children's choirs through scholarships offered because of this grant. Children learn to accept challenges, develop self-motivation, gain leadership skills, and much more through this unique program.

Wahiawa Kajukenbo Foundation - $10,000

The foundation teaches youth physical conditioning and discipline of the mind, body and spirit through kajukenbo – a hybrid martial art – in an afterschool program. This grant is targeted for scholarships for at-risk youth and for the development of a bully resistance program in the Fairfield/Suisun District.