This article appeared Friday, November 14th, on the Inside Valero coporate portal. It was written by team member Diane Moore, from the Valero Corporate Communications Department. Feel free to share this with friends and family - as a member of this incredible team, you have much to be proud of and deserve to toot your own horn!
Valero earned “Corporate Star” status this year through its commitment to the National Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Society. The company was recognized for its outstanding commitment to helping people with MS move their lives forward and to raising awareness of the disease and the National MS Society.
A delegation of Valero employee volunteers traveled to the Society’s national conference in Chicago on Nov. 7 to accept the award. Velo Valero Bike Team President Peter Ray, Velo Valero board member and Valero’s Manager of Community Relations Sylvia Rodriguez and MS Society Lone Star Chapter board member and Valero’s Manager of Territory Sales, Unbranded – Southwest Jay Bailey took the stage together to receive the award from Society President and CEO Joyce Nelson.
Posing with MS CEO Joyce Nelson
“The collective commitment from our Corporate Stars and Corporate Partners is equivalent to millions and millions of dollars in donated time, resources and services,” said Joyce Nelson, President and CEO of the National MS Society. “But it really is invaluable to know that some of the most well-known and most respected companies in the world are side-by-side with us in our commitment to people with MS as we move towards a world free from multiple sclerosis.”
The National MS Society Corporate Star program recognizes corporations that encourage volunteerism, lend their good names to fundraising events, contribute in-kind and cash sponsorship, support the establishment of corporate teams, provide expertise and leadership for Society chapters, advocate for increased accessibility for people with multiple sclerosis and other disabilities, as well as fund programs and research for people with MS through foundation grants or corporate gifts. Corporate Stars support the MS movement to the tune of half a million dollars a year or five million dollars over the life of the relationship.
Valero and its employee volunteers support the MS Society and its Lone Star Chapter in many ways, including:
- $225,000 in title sponsorship for the San Antonio, Texas, Bike MS: Valero Bike to the Beach over the next three years,
- innovative marketing assistance valued at over $600,000,
- local in-kind support for the MS Society’s Lone Star Chapter, which includes participation in the MS Walk, Camp Can-Do -- a weekend retreat for people with multiple sclerosis -- and other MS events throughout the year.
The company’s bike team VeloValero shattered all records for the Bike MS: Valero Bike to the Beach event by being the first-ever team to raise more than $300,000. The team’s fundraising as of Nov. 13 stands at $305,138.99! Leading by example, Valero Chairman Bill Klesse and his wife made a personal commitment of $100,000 to the Valero Bike to the Beach event.
The Valero Bike to the Beach event fundraising continues to surge ahead. Already in record-breaking territory, funds stood at $1.72 million, up 4% from the entire-event fundraising in 2007 of $1.65 million. Last year’s total was itself a record, but was not reached until five months after the ride. There is a growing excitement that this year could just be the year the Lone Star Chapter reaches a new milestone, raising $2 million!
“The corporate award and the record-breaking bike team fundraising reflects the corporate environment of ‘giving’ that’s lived daily at Valero,” said Tony Ralf, Vice President of the National MS Society’s Lone Star Chapter, which includes Austin, Corpus Christi, Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston and San Antonio. “Congratulations from us all at the Lone Star Chapter for a wonderful two record-setting years, and thanks for making your mark on working towards a world free of MS!”
Jay, Peter, and Sylvia accept the award during the Friday luncheon