About Us
Our mission is to empower people living with neuromuscular diseases to live longer, more independent lives.
$756,800 Raised at 41st Annual CITGO Lake Charles Refinery Golf Classic to Benefit the Muscular Dystrophy Association
Lake Charles, Louisiana, Wednesday, June 17, 2026 – The CITGO Lake Charles Refinery hosted its 41st annual CITGO MDA Golf Classic, raising a record-breaking $756,800 to support the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA). Funds from this event go towards MDA’s mission to support people living with neuromuscular disease through research, resources, education, multidisciplinary care, summer camp, advocacy, and more.
Since 1985, CITGO Lake Charles has raised $8.5 million for MDA by engaging vendors and partners in support of people living with neuromuscular disease. More than 250 participants gathered at The National Golf Club of Louisiana in Westlake, Louisiana, for a day of golf, a live auction, and awards while highlighting the momentum made possible through decades of partnership, and investment in the neuromuscular disease community.
MDA has led the way in building the neuromuscular disease field for more than 75 years — from funding early researchers and expanding multidisciplinary MDA Care Centers nationwide to advancing advocacy for healthcare access and more. Today, that progress is creating new hope through expanded treatment options, advances in gene-targeted therapies and muscle regeneration, and emerging newborn screening efforts for Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) in parts of the country that may help families access earlier diagnosis, care, and intervention.
“Living with Duchenne muscular dystrophy can be challenging every day, but I’m grateful for the support of my parents, my siblings, my teachers, and my community who help me keep moving forward,” said Jose Quezada, MDA Ambassador, 15, who attended the event with his family and shared his story. Jose was diagnosed with DMD at age 4. “Seeing people come together to raise money for the Muscular Dystrophy Association gives me hope that kids like me will continue to have more treatments, more opportunities for independence, and one day a cure.”
L to R: Charly Bradford, MDA Director of Project Management for Corporate Partnerships; Missy Amidon, CITGO Lake Charles Public Affairs Manager; Jose Quezada, CITGO MDA Golf Classic Ambassador; Sterling Neblett, CITGO Lake Charles Vice President & General Manager.
“The CITGO MDA Golf Classic is once again the largest fundraiser for the Muscular Dystrophy Association in the state of Louisiana,” said Sterling Neblett, Vice President and General Manager of the Lake Charles Manufacturing Complex. “We are incredibly appreciative of our generous vendors and the camaraderie we share, along with our employees who support the event through contributions and volunteering their time to help make the event a success.”
“Progress in neuromuscular disease research, care, and advocacy is only possible through committed partners like the CITGO Lake Charles Refinery, whose longstanding support continues to move our mission forward for the families we serve,” said Ruth Ann Dailey, Chief Development Officer of the Muscular Dystrophy Association. “Together, we’ve seen accelerated progress across the neuromuscular field, helping lead to more than 30 FDA-approved treatments in just the past decade and creating new options and brighter futures for people living with these diseases.”
Media inquiries contact press@mdausa.org.
About CITGO
CITGO Petroleum Corporation is a recognized leader in the refining industry and operates under the well-known CITGO brand. CITGO owns and operates three refineries located in Lake Charles, La.; Lemont, Ill.; and Corpus Christi, Texas, and wholly and/or jointly owns 43 active terminals, eight pipelines and three lubricants blending and packaging plants. With approximately 3,300 employees and a combined crude capacity of approximately 829,000 barrels-per-day (bpd), CITGO ranks as the fifth largest and is one of the most complex independent refiners in the United States. CITGO transports and markets transportation fuels, lubricants, petrochemicals and other industrial products, and supplies a network of approximately 4,000 locally owned and independently operated branded retail outlets, all located east of the Rocky Mountains. CITGO Petroleum Corporation is owned by CITGO Holding, Inc.
About Muscular Dystrophy Association
Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) has been at the center of progress for people living with muscular dystrophy, ALS, and over 300 other neuromuscular conditions for 75 years. We unite researchers, clinicians, advocates, and families to speed the pace of discovery, improve access to expert care, and ensure inclusion in every aspect of life. Our mission is simple: give the people we serve the tools and opportunities to live longer, more independent lives. To learn more visit mda.org. Follow MDA on social media on Instagram, Facebook, X, TikTok, LinkedIn, and YouTube.
