Marathon Pipe Line (MPL) formed a partnership with the Make-A-Wish Foundation of America in 2018 after employees selected the organization as the recipient of a grant award. An MPL committee was created to facilitate the partnership, and it encouraged employees to donate, sponsor children and train to become wish granters. 

The Make-A-Wish Foundation grants wishes for children diagnosed with critical illnesses, and Darren Wimer, Operations Technician for the MPL East Sparta Station in Ohio, felt a tug at his heart to personally help make those wishes come true. He and his wife Tracy decided to make the commitment to join the nonprofit organization.  

In 2020, Wimer organized his first Make-A-Wish fundraiser and golf tournament. Despite the event not going as planned due to the pandemic, it still produced six volunteers and ten teams, raising $2,800. Since then, the event has grown in popularity and increased the amount raised. This year the event finished with 26 teams, 17 hole sponsors, 54 raffle sponsors and a total of $8,100 raised for Make-A-Wish.  

“We can fund at least one or two wishes with that total,” said Wimer. “We know that Make-A-Wish gives children hope when they need it most. That mission drives us to do more and get more people involved.”  

Wimer said he is currently planning fundraising events for 2023 and is excited about the year. Since 2018, MPL has sponsored multiple children’s wishes, including some who are children of MPL employees.