HispanicPRNow

Companies Support Underprivileged Inner-City Latino Kids; Distribute New
Baseball Equipment in Top Hispanic Markets

New York, N.Y. (Sep. 4, 2007) – For more than 100 years, Latinos have made
significant historic contributions to the game of baseball and its
development on a global level. In recognition of this passion,
LatinoBaseball.com announces the Urban Youth Baseball Initiative to
support and promote the game among deserving Latino inner-city youth.
        Since many of today’s superstar franchise players are of Hispanic
descent, it’s understandable that baseball is growing at an even higher
rate of popularity among urban Latino youth than any other ethnic group.
        “We applaud the legacy of modern superstars and the current growth they
are encouraging among Latino youth in the inner cities,” said Ralph
Paniagua, president of
R. Paniagua Inc. (RPI), and publisher of LatinoBaseball.com.  “In
addition, we recognize the efforts of the coaches who take the time to
organize and operate youth baseball leagues throughout America.”
        “We have, however, noticed that some kids aren’t able to gain
access to some of the most basic baseball equipment such as
gloves, bats and baseballs.  Although participation in baseball
among Latino inner-city youth is on the rise, the equipment they
both need and deserve is often beyond their reach,” said Paniagua.
“Programs that supply these needs are thankfully made possible
with the assistance of good corporate citizens like CITGO
Petroleum Corp., the Venezuelan oil concern.”
        In four cities, including Miami, Houston, New York and Chicago, 50 Latino
youth baseball teams will be hand-selected by their local big league team
to participate in the grassroots initiative.  Four of the selected teams
will then win the opportunity to play in a “round robin” mini-tournament,
and the winning team in each city will be featured during the Hispanic
Heritage Day at the Ballpark festivities.
        The Urban Youth Baseball Initiative and mini-tournament will take
place at a local ball field chosen by each professional big league
baseball team. The dates for those tournaments are as follows:
Miami on Sept. 1, Houston on Sept. 15, New York on Sept. 21, and
Chicago on Sept. 26, from 9 to 4 p.m.  The Hispanic Heritage Day
at the Ballpark events will occur during the regularly scheduled
big league baseball game that evening.
        “Everyone will be a winner. All of the kids involved will be treated to a
day of ballpark food and beverages while watching the mini-tournaments,”
said Paniagua. “We would like to thank CITGO for its commitment to
baseball and its dedication to making dreams a reality for inner-city
youth.”
        In addition to CITGO’s sponsorship, the company will also provide each
team with an equipment bag including 15 new baseball gloves for kids age
12-13, three bats and a dozen baseballs.
Latinobaseball.com is also planning an online Latino baseball history
contest for teams located outside of the four participating Urban Youth
Baseball Initiative markets, which will provide an opportunity for
additional urban youth baseball teams to win an equipment bag of their
own.
        LatinoBaseball.com is the premiere Web site documenting the
history of Latinos in the game of baseball.  The site offers the
latest statistics on big league players who are Latinos, as well
as historical data and articles of interest on the great Latino
players of yesteryear. In addition, visitors can find an online
database of facts and figures on Latinos and their contributions
to professional big-league baseball history, the Caribbean World
Series and the Caribbean Winter League.
        Hispanic Heritage Day at the Ballpark honors the achievements of past and
present star Latino ballplayers in the big leagues with a four-minute
scoreboard video presentation to the fans, followed by an on-field award
presentation to a current Latino baseball star and legend of the game for
their achievements on and off the field.  Fans in each city are
encouraged to log on to www.LatinoBaseball.com to vote for their local
team’s recipient of the Latino Baseball Player of the Year Award.

About Latinobaseball.com:
        Latinobaseball.com, first produced as a magazine in 1990, is published by
R. Paniagua, Inc. RPI is committed to excellence in providing
qualitative, integrated, media-leveraged Latino marketing communications
programs that are relevant and provide value to the community. RPI is
among the most unique and innovative media content providers and urban
events marketing firm in the US and serving the Latino community.  The
firm targets US based Latino audiences with exciting event promotions
that deliver this exciting consumer segment and a healthy return on
investment.  For more information about these and other RPI events and
media properties, log on to www.LatinoBaseball.com or call Ralph Paniagua
at (212) 679-6755.

About CITGO:
CITGO, based in Houston, is a refiner, transporter and marketer of
transportation fuels, lubricants, petrochemicals, refined waxes, asphalt
and other industrial products.  The company is owned by PDV America, Inc.,
an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Petróleos de Venezuela, S.A., the
national oil company of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.  For more
information visit www.citgo.com.

                                         Contacts: Ralph Paniagua
                                          R. Paniagua, Inc.
                                          212/679-6755 (office)
                                          917/446-3346 (cell)
                                          Ralph@rpaniagua.net

                                          J.M. De Jesús
                                          QUADRANT TWO PR
                                          (646) 234-7196
                                          jm@q2pr.com