Marathon and United Way empower childhood learning in Mexico

Community News

foundation, sustainability, Mexico, Mexico City
Three people stand together, holding a certificate.
MPC Mexico Government and Public Affairs Director Paulo Esteban Alcaraz (right) with school representatives in Los Mochis, Sinaloa, where schools received new books as well as educational toys and games to create a ludoteca (toy library).

Key Points

  • United Way is giving more elementary schools in Mexico tools to strengthen reading skills and cognitive development in young children.
  • New books and educational toys are part of expanded initiatives in three cities that are reaching almost 1,000 students this year.
  • Delivery of these materials was made possible through grant support from Marathon Petroleum’s office in Mexico City.
A man addresses a group of people while standing in front of a colorful display with a microphone.
United Way’s celebration highlighted the launch of ludotecas (toy libraries) in preschool classrooms—an initiative supported by MPC’s grant.

United Way – Chihuahua is bringing early childhood development assistance to more public schools in Mexico after expanding initiatives in three cities to reach almost 1,000 students. The organization established programs to reinforce reading skills and enhance cognitive abilities for students in Mexicali, Baja California; Los Mochis, Sinaloa; and Juárez, Chihuahua, with grant support from Marathon Petroleum Corporation’s (MPC) Mexico City office.

“We worked with the United Way chapter in the state of Chihuahua to deliver about 720 books to each of three public elementary schools for the Todos a Leer (Everyone Reads) program, which promotes the habit of reading at an early age,” said MPC Mexico Government and Public Affairs Director Paulo Esteban Alcaraz. “We also helped preschool classrooms create ludotecas (toy libraries) by providing educational games and toys for children as young as three to help increase their capacity to reason and interact socially.”

Carts with many of the 720 books that went to each of three schools as part of the Todos a Leer (Everyone Reads) program.
Carts with many of the 720 books that went to each of three schools as part of the Todos a Leer (Everyone Reads) program.

“We want to help young people in these areas dream big and think about their future possibilities because we are connected to where they live.”

MPC’s Mexico City office also provided additional grant support to United Way – Chihuahua to help meet the fuel needs of its vehicle fleet. 

At one of the elementary schools where United Way – Chihuahua celebrated the launch of these programs, students held a sign with this message: La lectura es una fábrica de sueños (Reading is a factory of dreams).

“We want to help young people in these areas dream big and think about their future possibilities because we are connected to where they live,” Alcaraz said. “These programs are located in states (Baja California, Sinaloa and Chihuahua) where we import, distribute and sell our fuel products and support MPC’s ARCO® retail brand.” 

Beyond the educational initiatives, MPC is also assisting United Way – Chihuahua in 2025 with a grant to help meet the fuel needs of the organization’s vehicle fleet.

“We are eager to invest in United Way – Chihuahua because so many of its initiatives have lasting value and a positive social return on investment,” said Alcaraz. “For example, the 1,000 students benefiting from the educational programs this year will be duplicated many times because the books and toys should last approximately 10 school years, helping future generations as well.”

Two adults stand next to a young student who is holding a tote bag.
MPC Mexico Government and Public Affairs Director Paulo Esteban Alcaraz with a student and teacher at a celebration of the Todos a Leer program, which focuses on promoting the habit of reading at an early age.