Marathon Petroleum’s Robinson refinery helps raise over $140,000 to bring Boys & Girls Club to Crawford County

Community News

Mar 14, 2024

The Crawford County Youth Foundation Gala was held at Robinson’s Stoney Ridge Event Center.

A dream to open a local chapter of the Boys & Girls Clubs of America is getting much closer to reality in Crawford County, Illinois.
In February, Marathon Petroleum’s Robinson refinery co-sponsored a fundraising event to support the project and raised over $140,000.
In partnership with the Boys & Girls Club of Evansville, the Boys & Girls Club of Crawford County is set to be open at Washington Elementary School in Robinson to provide children with a variety of educational programming and physical activities.

Guests at the gala take part in the live bidding auction.

A longtime dream to bring the Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA) to Crawford County, Illinois, is getting much closer to becoming a reality. In February, Marathon Petroleum's Robinson refinery co-sponsored and organized the Crawford County Youth Foundation Gala, which included a silent and live auction. Over 250 community members attended the event at Robinson’s Stoney Ridge Event Center.

Proceeds topped the $100,000 fundraising goal by over $40,000. The money will help establish a Boys & Girls Club of Crawford County.

Gala planning committee members (L to R) Jason Goff, Jessie Steele, Michelle Dorfmueller, Kate Pleasant, Aimee Weber, Kenzi Deckard, Jeff Mueller, Sharri Jeffers, Kylie Veach, Amy Stone, Kristy Boyer, Michele Brown and Amy Macak

“It truly was inspiring to see so many of our team members, their families, and so many from our local community come out to support such an important project like this,” said Amy Macak, General Manager of the Robinson refinery.

Macak, who also serves on the board of the Boys & Girls Club of Crawford County, is helping to oversee the development of the local club, which is expected to be located at Washington Elementary School.

Jason and Amy Macak with Brenda Sands and Paul Sovinski

“An organization like the Boys & Girls Clubs of America comes with so many advantages for the communities they are in, but more importantly, it benefits the youth who attend,” Macak said. “This organization supports children’s education, physical and emotional well-being, and provides a variety of programming and activities they may otherwise not have access to.”

Statistics also show that before and after school programming through organizations like BGCA also reduces crime by giving children and teens a constructive alternative.

The Robinson refinery has been a key partner in establishing the local club, which is expected to open for the 2024-2025 school year. In addition to the money raised at the gala, the refinery has committed to providing a multi-year grant to support the club once it opens.