The Valero Energy Foundation awarded checks totaling $570,000 to representatives of 23 local children’s charities Tuesday at Valero’s Administration Building in Port Arthur.

The funds were raised at the 2016 Valero Texas Open and Benefit for Children, in which a record-setting $10.5 million was raised by Valero and its business partners and sponsors — the highest amount of any PGA Tour this year.

“Valero has a long standing policy as a company to promote volunteerism and to look for charitable opportunities,” Greg Gentry, vice-president and general manager of the Valero Port Arthur Refinery, said.

Gentry highlighted the importance of community-minded work at the company by referencing the 150,000 volunteer hours performed by Valero employees each year.

“We fund and encourage volunteer projects,” Gentry said. “Valero is active (communally) in its 15 sites and corporate.”

The $10.5 million raised at the 2016 Valero Texas Open will be distributed among children’s charities across the country where Valero has major sites.

“I think Valero is promoting its company policy forward,” Gentry said.

Gentry expressed respect for the businesses he and the company work with.

“I think we develop better relations with businesses more than other companies. …

“It’s just the overall culture of the company,” Gentry said. “And it encourages our employees to volunteer.”

The children’s charities that do get the donations are nominated and chosen by Valero employees.

“We have a selection committee. … The committee looks at the charity and visits them and looks at the work they do and how they function,” Gentry said.

“We also see if they meet with the core values that we have.”

“Charity is important to our company because we think it’s important to give back to the community that we’re working in,” Barbara Phillips, public affairs manager for Valero, said.

“We feel it’s our responsibility to give back.”

Phillips emphasized the employees’ roles in selecting the charities.

“Our employees nominate the children’s charities they’re interested in, and then a selection committee of employees meet and interview the organizations,” Phillips said.

“They’ll review the charities and help those they feel are most in need, and the (selection committee) makes its choice.”

Valero bought the Port Arthur refinery in 2005, and the company has been involved with charities in the area since.

Valero has been the title sponsor of the Valero Texas Open PGA Tour since 2002.

“It’s truly amazing the way this has been growing,” Phillips said. “When Valero took it over, it’s gotten bigger.

“We have a great community.”