Marathon Petroleum recently took on another local beautification project at Elizabeth Hudson Elementary School where their team of over 50 student volunteers worked alongside their mentors. Local nonprofit, Sharefest Community Development, Inc., served as the project management team for the undertaking. By selecting Sharefest as their partner, Marathon’s investment not only beautified Elizabeth Hudson but also helped fund Sharefest’s ongoing work with local youth.

Together they transformed the cafeteria area into a bright, inspiring space with 7 gigantic murals. “Marathon doesn’t have to give back, yet they choose to every year,” said Chad Mayer, Executive Director of Sharefest. “They see so much value in our communities and we are always honored to work with them on projects like this one at Elizabeth Hudson.” 

Marathon’s community investment strategy is centered around strengthening communities and making people’s lives better. Thomas Espinoza, Principal at Elizabeth Hudson Elementary School shared how he sees this value lived out when he said, “It means we have a partnership with an organization that seeks to improve the community. It’s always a great thing for our school, our community, and our students to learn what it means to give back.” Sharing a similar sentiment, Franko Jefferson, Advanced Training Specialist at Marathon commented, “I’ve been part of the summer youth program for over 20 years and we’ve gone to different schools and done various projects. It feels good giving back to your community We like to be part of something bigger than we are.”

Marathon and Sharefest’s partnership is an example of the bridge that can be built between corporations and communities. Marathon’s investment in community projects and local nonprofits is the type of partnership required for lasting community change. Sharefest Development Director, Jennifer Paris shared a final thought saying, “Marathon sees value in their community and proves it time and again by giving back. Our partnership demonstrates how a day of service can become life change for vulnerable youth.”

 

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About Sharefest: 

Sharefest exists to empower underserved youth to transform their futures and become leaders of collaborative community change. Sharefest programming helps keep Continuation High School students enrolled in school through graduation, achieve significant increases in their GPA and develop social skills that help them reach college or career goals. In the 2021-2022 school year alone Sharefest served hundreds of youth and watched 98 students achieve their goal of high school graduation. 

About Marathon Petroleum Corporation and the Los Angeles Refinery: 

Marathon Petroleum Corporation (MPC) is a leading, integrated, downstream energy company headquartered in Findlay, Ohio. The company operates the nation’s largest refining system. MPC’s marketing system includes branded locations across the United States, including Marathon brand retail outlets. MPC also owns the general partner and majority limited partner interest in MPLX LP, a midstream company that owns and operates gathering, processing, and fractionation assets, as well as crude oil and light product transportation and logistics infrastructure. More information is available at www.marathonpetroleum.com.

MPC’s Los Angeles refinery is in Los Angeles County, near the Los Angeles Harbor. It manufactures cleaner-burning California Air Resources Board (CARB) gasoline and CARB diesel fuel, as well as conventional gasoline, distillates, petroleum coke, anode-grade coke, chemical-grade propylene, fuel-grade coke, heavy fuel oil and propane. The refinery ships products via its connections to several product distribution pipelines and terminals. Its Watson cogeneration plant produces 400 megawatts and is the largest cogeneration facility in California.