Galveston Bay refinery team helps make a first-time homeowner’s dream come true

Community News

Galveston Bay, Texas, foundation
Someone standing in front of a residential building.
Donovan Smith stands outside the home he helped build following the Home Dedication ceremony in January 2026.

Key Points

  • Employees from Marathon Petroleum’s Galveston Bay refinery helped celebrate a Texas City resident achieving his dream of homeownership through Bay Area Habitat for Humanity.
  • Volunteers from the refinery, community members and the homeowner worked side by side for more than a year, helping turn hard work into a place he can now call home.
  • On the heels of the celebration, Marathon Petroleum announced a $150,000 commitment to help build another Habitat home in Texas City.

“I can’t believe it’s here. It’s still surreal.”

Standing outside his new home in Texas City, Donovan Smith paused for a moment, taking in what had once felt impossible.

“I worked hard for this,” he said. “To see it all pay off is crazy.”

Three people posing together at an event.
Smith (center) poses with Marathon Petroleum’s Cory Bush (left) and Iman Montgomery (right) at his January Home Dedication ceremony.

Earlier this year, Smith received the keys to his home through Bay Area Habitat for Humanity, marking a moment months in the making and the start of a new chapter built through determination, community support and countless hours of hard work.

“There were definitely moments of blood, sweat and tears,” he added. “But it was all worth it. I’d go through it all again.”

“So many people gave their time, energy and support. They’re forever a part of my life. I couldn’t have done this without them.”

Smith, who chose to be a part of the building process, was joined by countless others who volunteered their time to help raise this dream home, including employees from Marathon Petroleum’s Galveston Bay refinery.

“When Marathon volunteers show up, we know we’re going to get things done,” said Megan Scheffer, Executive Director of Bay Area Habitat for Humanity. “They come ready to work, and we truly feel their support. It’s a community-first mindset, and we’re incredibly grateful for the time they give.”

A yard with building materials and early construction activity.
 From Smith’s yard, the future site of the next Bay Area Habitat home build, which broke ground in March. Marathon Petroleum committed $150,000 to the project shortly after the January home dedication.

From early build days to the final Home Dedication celebration, Marathon volunteers worked alongside community members to help bring Smith’s ream of homeownership to life. Marathon Petroleum was also one of three local sponsors supporting the project.

“So many people gave their time, energy and support,” he said. “They’re forever a part of my life. I couldn’t have done this without them.”

A group of people raising a wall frame at a construction site.
Smith and Marathon Petroleum volunteers, including Cory Bush, raise one of the home’s walls during the summer of 2025.

Among those supporters was Cory Bush, a Multi-Craft Supervisor at the Galveston Bay refinery. Bush donated a brand-new washer and dryer to help Smith settle into his new home, continuing a personal tradition of supporting Habitat homeowners.

“I feel fortunate in my life,” Bush said. “If there’s something I can do to help make someone else’s life a little easier and pay my blessings forward, I want to do it.”

Volunteers working together at a construction site.
Marathon Petroleum volunteers work together to secure one of the home’s walls to its foundation early in the building process.

For Bush, the effort carries special meaning. Born and raised in Texas City, he says giving back to the community that helped shape him is deeply personal.

“This community helped raise me into the person I am today,” he said. “Sometimes it’s the little things that make the biggest difference. I just want Donovan to have everything he needs to start this next chapter off right.”

Volunteers gathered at a construction site.
Additional Marathon Petroleum volunteers visit the build site during another volunteer day in 2025 to help make Smith’s dream of homeownership a reality.

Shortly after Smith’s Home Dedication, Marathon Petroleum announced an additional $150,000 commitment to fully sponsor another Habitat home in Texas City, which broke ground in March, and is being built just around the corner.

“We’re incredibly grateful for Marathon’s continued partnership and long-standing investment in the Texas City community,” Scheffer said. “Because of partners like Marathon, another local family will soon have a safe, stable place to call home. We can’t wait to welcome the Marathon team back on site as we continue building dreams together.”