CITGO Marketer CN Brown Raises More Than $300K for MDA in 2019

Longtime Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) supporter CN Brown Company, a CITGO Petroleum Corporation (CITGO) marketer, raised more than $300,000 for the MDA’s Maine chapter in 2019.

“Our family’s commitment to helping win the fight for families affected by MDA has remained strong for generations,” Jeff Jones, CN Brown’s general manager, said in a press release. “Over the last 30 years, CN Brown Company and our employees have worked hard to raise more than $6 million for the MDA Maine chapter.”

About $72,000 was raised at the company’s 28th annual Miracle Ball, while its 32nd annual golf tournament generated $48,000.

Nearly 900 CN Brown employees also participated in the company’s two annual paper mobile fundraising campaigns, encouraging patrons of 76 Big Apple Food stores, 26 energy offices and a dozen service stations throughout Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont to buy $1 and $5 paper mobiles in support of the MDA. Those two drives netted $165,500.

The MDA’s biggest corporate sponsor, Houston-based CITGO and its marketers and retailers, have raised more than $250 million to support the nonprofit’s research efforts and programs for patients, families and caregivers in the neuromuscular disease community. CITGO continues to support the MDA’s research grants, resource center, Summer Camp, and Care Center network, which includes top medical institutions internationally.

Over the years, CITGO’s community fundraising efforts have included events such as golf and bowling tournaments, walk-a-thons, raffles, a river cruise, auctions, the MDA’s Hollywood-themed Passport to a Cure, MDA Muscle Team, and the MDA Toast to Life, as well as the MDA Shamrocks campaign. Over 20,000 businesses nationwide participated in this St. Patrick’s Day fundraiser in 2019.

Focused on supporting work into better therapies and cures for muscular dystrophy, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and other neuromuscular disorders, the MDA funds research projects globally. It has awarded more than $1 billion in grants since its 1950 founding.

A leader in the refining industry, CITGO transports and markets transportation fuels, lubricants, petrochemicals and other industrial products. It also supplies an expansive network of locally owned and operated retail outlets.

CITGO marketer CN Brown owns Big Apple Food Stores, heating oil sites, and gas stations throughout New England.

The most common forms of muscular dystrophy in the United States are Duchenne and Becker, which affect roughly 1 in every 5,600 to 7,700 males, ages 5 to 24.