Valero Energy Corporation donated $150,000 to Benicia Little League to support the Rebuilding Fitzgerald Field Project at the Oct. 18 council meeting. The check was presented to Benicia Little League President (right) Robb Trost from the refinery’s Vice President and G.M. Don Wilson. Valero was honored with a city proclamation for 50 years of doing business at the refinery.

Galen Kusic, Editor

(This article was originally published in the Oct. 18 print edition of the Herald)

At Tue. night’s council meeting, a Proclamation was made to the Benicia Valero Refinery from the City, Senator Bill Dodd and Assemblymember Tim Grayson’s offices celebrating 50 years.

But what was undoubtedly the highlight of the night was when refinery Vice President and General Manager Don Wilson presented Benicia Little League President Robb Trost with a $150,000 check for the rehabilitation of Fitzgerald Field. The donation will help rebuild the field and grandstands for Benicia Little League.

“At Valero we treat our ability to work in Benicia as a privilege. We work hard everyday to be a responsible business,” said Wilson.

Wilson explained that when the story of Fitzgerald Field was told to Valero’s Corporate Charity Foundation and CEO of the historic importance and continued positive impact to Benicia’s children and families today, the foundation recognized the challenge.

The check was then presented to Trost, as those in attendance gave a standing ovation and loud applause.

Throughout the year, refinery employees have been observing the refinery’s golden anniversary with a series of events including tree-planting, a luncheon and gala dinner and a pair of $50,000 donations to the Benicia Community Action Council and the Benicia Teen Center (Kyle Hyland Foundation for Teen Support) which was raised from a sporting clays invitational. The latest donation to Benicia Little League rounds out the year’s 50^th anniversary observances.

Volunteers from Benicia Valero Refinery teamed up with the Benicia Tree Foundation to plant 50 trees in two locations this summer as part of Valero’s 50th year celebration.

“We had the opportunity to watch this community and Valero, and we totally admire their community involvement and the way that their employees volunteer hours,” said Ron Turner, Senior Field Representative for Senator Bill Dodd. “Sharing your resources and money with the community makes a big difference. We appreciate it.”

Valero community relations staff approached the Benicia Tree Foundation this summer for advice on how to incorporate trees in landscaping projects at two of their properties in the Benicia Industrial Park.

The first project was along the section of Industrial Way in front of their office building at 610 Industrial Way. The Benicia Tree Foundation recommended several tree species and coordinated the volunteers that planted 21 trees along Industrial Way.  After the success of this initial project, Valero incorporated the tree recommendation from Benicia Tree Foundation in their second project to replace the former lawn in front of the Valero Refinery administration building at 3400 East Second Street.

“Thank you for bringing all the good joy to us this evening and please do enjoy the rest of the evening enjoying this 50^th anniversary. It is quite remarkable, and something the city does recognize,” said Mayor Elizabeth Patterson.

In the nearly 20 years under Valero, the refinery and its employees have contributed more than 2,000 volunteer hours each year to local nonprofit organizations and the Benicia Unified School District, while donating millions to local charities.

“From our ‘Humble’ beginnings, the Benicia refinery has provided 50 years of continuous energy to Californians and beyond,” wrote Wilson in a dedication for a special anniversary book. “Powering the world’s fifth-largest economy takes supreme personnel, quality equipment and immense teamwork. The Benicia refinery has proven year in and year out that we are the best at what we do, and I am extremely grateful to our employees and annuitants who make our refinery a great place to work.”

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