Working for a scary good cause in Los Angeles

Community News

Los Angeles, Foundation, sustainability

Volunteers from the Los Angeles refinery are helping bring back a local Halloween tradition for families after it was canceled in 2020 due to COVID-19. They spent several hours on two recent weekends helping the city-run  Cabrillo Marine Aquarium prepare for its upcoming 15th annual Sea Scare.

Refinery employees and several of their family members completed much of the preliminary work that will allow the event to take place on Oct. 23. They made masks for children to wear and craft items that will be available for families to take home. The volunteers also painted props that will be used to represent the event’s ‘Haunted Port Town’ theme in providing backdrops for games, a haunted maze, a costume contest and a ‘trunk or treat’ activity.

“The willingness of employees to take time out of their weekends demonstrated our company’s commitment to giving back to our community and strengthened our relationship with a valuable community partner,” said team leader Greg Boyer.

Marathon Petroleum also contributes grants to organizations when employees record their volunteer hours through the company’s Volunteer Incentive Program. The refinery’s support goes beyond volunteer projects and financial contributions. Marathon Petroleum’s Environmental, Safety and Security Manager Denis Kurt is a member of the aquarium’s board. 

The aquarium has operated since 1935 and displays the largest collection of Southern California marine life in the world. Located near the Port of Los Angeles, the facility is managed by the City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks and supported by FRIENDS of Cabrillo Marine Aquarium, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.

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