Maryland Business Besche Oil Goes Above and Beyond to Support Area Residents

Fuel Supplier Serves as Model for Community Involvement and Business
Enterprise

WALDORF, Md., March 30 /PRNewswire/ -- Since 1948, Besche Oil has been an
integral part of the Southern Maryland community, supplying local gas stations
with fuel and ensuring that individual homes have the heating oil they need.
But what sets Besche Oil apart from other businesses is their dedication to
the community beyond the business transaction.

Each year, with the full support of their employer, Besche Oil employees
donate thousands of hours of their personal time to support charity,
community, and educational activities across Southern Maryland. Besche Oil
also donates money to local, regional, and national programs that help improve
the lives of others. Already this year, Besche Oil, and their business partner
CITGO Petroleum, have made a donation of $105,000 to the College of Southern
Maryland. The donation will go towards the Trade Training Center.

"When my father started this company back in the late 1940s, communities were
much smaller, and it was easier to get to know your neighbor," said Michael A.
Besche, President of Besche Oil. "Maybe we are old-fashioned, but we still
feel strongly that you must give back to your friends and neighbors in order
to be successful."

"Each year our employees contribute more than 4,400 hours -- an average of
more than 12 hours every day of the year -- on programs that are near and dear
to their hearts. We also donate approximately $20,000 each year to a variety
of local programs and charities," Besche said.

In addition to the College of Southern Maryland, for which Michael Besche
serves as the Chairman for the Capital Campaign, Besche Oil also supports the
American Red Cross, several local Boy Scout troops, the United Way of Charles
County and a variety of other charity and community programs. Several Besche
Oil employees, from senior management to sales and support teams, are also
actively involved in volunteer fire and emergency response organizations
across Southern Maryland. Other employees support groups such as the Susan G.
Komen Race for the Cure to raise money for breast cancer research and Habitat
for Humanity.

"Besche Oil is an inspiration as to how so many employees at every level in
the company are committed to volunteer work. It is truly an integral part of
the corporate culture," said Amy Wright, a regional marketing program manager
for CITGO Petroleum. "Through the charity activities of all the locally-owned
CITGO stations, as well as our corporate involvement with MDA, CITGO sees many
examples of small businesses doing good in their communities. However, from
the personal example set by Michael down to the accounting team, sales people,
and IT manager, the employees at Besche Oil set the bar high. They are truly
an example to us all."

Besche Oil actively participates in a wide range of programs across Southern
Maryland throughout the year. For information on CITGO operations in
Maryland, visit www.CITGO.com/Maryland.

Contact:
Luke Dickinson
Levick Strategic Communications for Besche Oil
Phone: 202-973-1328
Cell: 202-294-3244
Email: ldickinson@levick.com

SOURCE Besche Oil

Luke Dickinson of Levick Strategic Communications for Besche Oil,
+1-202-973-1328, +1-202-294-3244 (Cell), ldickinson@levick.com