Here in Texas, we do everything bigger. And the 90^th year of the Valero Texas Open is no exception. The 2012 tournament is gonna be like no other. Starting with our new commemorative logo. We took a little bit of history, a little heritage, and mixed in a whole lotta ‘Unapologetically Texan’ spirit. You can call it a birthday or an anniversary or anything you like. One thing we know for sure, we’d love for you to come CELEBRATE with us!

Golf San Antonio and the Valero Texas Open would like to thank you for your support and success of the tournament. We appreciate your active involvement as we spread the word. Tradition and history is something to celebrate, and we have quite a celebration in store for you in 2012 as we commemorate the 90^th Birthday of the Valero Texas Open. Celebrate with us as we honor our history and launch our exciting future.

Here are a just a few reasons to celebrate with us. Did you know that the Valero Texas Open is the:

… 5^th oldest professional golf tournament in the world
… Longest running tournament hosted in the same city
… Only tournament to have ever been played on a military golf course
… #1 event on the PGA TOUR charity leaderboard 5 out of the 6 past years
($67 million in charitable contributions during the tournament’s history)

We extend a special invitation to you to attend the 2012 Valero Texas Open and the many events surrounding our 90^th celebration. Please visit us at http://valerotexasopen.org/spectator-info/celebrating-90-years/ and follow us on Facebook and Twitter to stay informed about the many exciting events in store for 2012.

The Valero Texas Open…“Unapologetically Texan”.

Follow us on:
facebook.com/valerotxopen and twitter.com/valerotxopen

Funds will support children’s charities across the country;
 tournament once again among the largest fundraising PGA TOUR events

SAN ANTONIO, April 12, 2011 – The Valero Texas Open and Benefit for Children Golf Classic together raised $9 million for children’s charities, event organizers announced during a special event at the headquarters of tournament title sponsor Valero Energy Corporation for kids from local Boys and Girls Clubs. 

Tournament organizers with Valero and Golf San Antonio said they were especially pleased that they were able to raise an unprecedented amount for children’s charities because needs have increased due to budget cuts and lingering economic difficulties. The fundraising total is likely to secure the Valero Texas Open’s spot among the top fundraising events on the PGA TOUR.

Funds are raised through sponsorships sold during the Valero Texas Open – which takes place Thursday through Sunday this week – and the Valero Benefit for Children Golf Classic – a golf tournament in which a record 2,200 participants will play on Monday, April 18 at 11 of San Antonio’s premier golf courses. Employees in locations where Valero has operations choose worthy children’s charities to receive the funds. Though its history, the Texas Open has raised $67 million for charities — $62.5 million of that since 2002, when Valero became the tournament’s title sponsor.

“Raising this money for children’s charities wouldn’t have been possible without the generosity of our sponsors and business partners, who have been very supportive over the years,” said Valero Executive Vice President and General Counsel Kim Bowers, who is heading up Valero’s efforts in this year’s tournament. “And of course, the tournament itself couldn’t take place without the efforts of the thousands of volunteers who devote their time to making sure everything goes as planned.”

Golf San Antonio, which organizes the Valero Texas Open, raises charitable dollars through its pro-am golf tournaments, the Birdies for Charity program in which nonprofit organizations solicit pledges for every birdie made during tournament week, and the Chip In for Schools program, which allows schools to sell discounted tournament tickets and keep all the proceeds.

“At a time when the needs in San Antonio and other communities are increasing, the charitable mission of the Valero Texas Open has special significance,” said Tony Piazzi, President and CEO of Golf San Antonio. “We are grateful for the incredible support that our partner, Valero Energy Corporation, provides to the tournament and our community. And we are thrilled to be taking a leadership role among the many fine events that make up the PGA TOUR family.”

This year’s tournament, which runs Thursday, April 14 through Sunday, April 17 at the TPC San Antonio AT&T Oaks Course, provides its players a chance to earn FedEx-Cup points. Tickets can be purchased through schools participating in the Chip In for Schools program (call 210-345-3818), or by going online at www.golfsanantonio.org. Those purchasing tickets directly from Golf San Antonio can select a participating school to receive the funds. Additionally, tickets can be purchased at area Valero Corner Stores or at the tournament gate. Children 12 and under and spectators with a valid military ID will receive free admission.

About Valero:

Valero Energy Corporation is an international manufacturer and marketer of transportation fuels, other petrochemical products and power. Its assets include 14 petroleum refineries with a combined throughput capacity of approximately 2.6 million barrels per day, 10 ethanol plants with a combined production capacity of 1.1 billion gallons per year, and a 50-megawatt wind farm. Valero is also one of the largest retail operators with approximately 5,800 retail and branded wholesale outlets in the United States, Canada and the Caribbean under the Valero, Diamond Shamrock, Shamrock, Ultramar and Beacon brands. Based in San Antonio, Valero is a Fortune 500 company with approximately 20,000 employees. Please visit www.valero.com for more information.

Valero Texas Open receives “Best Of” award at
PGA TOUR Tournament Advisory Council Meetings

PGA TOUR event honored for “Best Charity Integration”

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, FL — The Valero Texas Open (San Antonio, TX) was honored by the PGA TOUR at the TOUR’s Tournament Advisory Council (TAC) Meetings this week.

The Valero Texas Open earned “Best Charity Integration” honors for 2010 for integrating its charity messaging into the event’s marketing efforts, both on-site and into tournament programming.

“On behalf of the PGA TOUR, I am pleased to acknowledge and congratulate the outstanding job and special recognition the Valero Texas Open has earned for its efforts,” said PGA TOUR EVP and Chief of Operations Andy Pazder. “The tournament committee should be extremely proud for being acknowledged as the best among its peers on TOUR.”

Among the Valero Texas Open’s many charitable accolades include the raising and donating of more than $58 million since the event’s inception. In 2010 alone, the event raised $8 million for charity. Part of that came from the tournament’s “Birdies for Charity” and “Chip in for Schools” programs. In 2010, 139 charities participated in “Birdies for Charity” and raised $1.1 million. The “Chip In for Schools” program sold discounted tickets to local schools, with 100 percent of all money collected going back to the schools.

The tournament also possesses a strong commitment to members of the military in the community. Wounded Warriors and active duty personnel, as well as their families, are annually admitted free of charge to two hospitality venues on site. The tournament hosts a “Night to Honor Our Heroes”, a dinner that features distinguished speakers from the military. All proceeds from this event benefit local military charities.

The Valero Texas Open annually stages a Charity Challenge during the Aquafina Family Fiesta day that engages over 500 area kids and 15 charities. This event has distributed approximately $20,000 to participating charities.

Another charitable component to the Valero Texas Open is the “Valero Benefit for Children” the Monday after the final round, where more than 2,200 individuals from Valero’s vendors participate each year. A tremendous success, the Benefit generates 75% of the tournament’s charitable giving.

“Golf San Antonio and Valero believe that charitable giving is the most important component in conducting a PGA TOUR event,” said Tony Piazzi, Golf San Antonio president and CEO. “In these challenging times, it is important to integrate our charity message into the community. We are thrilled to receive this award, and thank Valero and our many volunteers for their tremendous support of the Valero Texas Open.”

The 2011 Valero Texas Open, captured in 2010 by Adam Scott, will be held April 14-17 at TPC San Antonio.

About PGA TOUR
The PGA TOUR is the world’s premier membership organization for touring professional golfers, co-sanctioning more than 100 tournaments on the PGA TOUR, Champions Tour and Nationwide Tour.

The PGA TOUR’s mission is to entertain and inspire its fans, deliver substantial value to its partners, create outlets for volunteers to give back, generate significant charitable and economic impact in communities in which it plays, and provide financial opportunities for TOUR players.

In 2010, the three Tours collectively have tournaments in 34 states and in 12 countries outside of the U.S. PGA TOUR tournaments are broadcast to nearly 600 million households in 231 countries and 30 languages.

Virtually all tournaments are organized as non-profit organizations in order to maximize charitable giving. In 2009, tournaments on the three Tours generated nearly $109 million for local charitable organizations, bringing the TOUR’s all-time total of charitable contributions to nearly $1.5 billion.

The PGA TOUR’s web site is PGATOUR.COM, the No. 1 site in golf, and the company is headquartered in Ponte Vedra Beach, FL.

CONTACT
Joel Schuchmann, PGA TOUR, 904-280-4707, joelschuchmann@pgatourhq.com

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