Month: August 2023

Employees from Marathon Petroleum’s St. Paul Park refinery started restoration work on a 175-acre bluffland property near the facility, as part of its longtime partnership with the Friends of the Mississippi River.In 2022, the refinery presented the nonprofit with a grant to restore the property that had been overrun with litter and invasive plant life.Employee volunteers split up into two teams in May to clear the property, which is part of the Mississippi River’s watershed in the Twin Cities region.

Winters can be long in Minnesota, and the last one brought near-record snowfall to the Twin Cities area, officially the third snowiest on record, leading to a snow-covered ground for much of the 2022-2023 season.

When all that snow finally melted, employees from Marathon Petroleum’s refinery in St. Paul Park got to work collecting and hauling away bags and bags worth of litter and debris from an area bluffland near the facility—as part of its longstanding partnership with Friends of the Mississippi River (FMR).

“It can seem daunting to care for natural spaces when you have things like trash and invasive species, but a step like this, getting 30 Marathon employees out to clean up and beautify their space, really shows their commitment to the community,” said Alex Roth, Conservation Director at FMR.

With guidance from FMR, Marathon Petroleum’s volunteers covered the entire grounds in two shifts, collecting all kinds of trash from common litter to a kiddie pool. They were also tasked with removing invasive plant life that was harming the bluffland’s native vegetation.

“Just the level of participation was incredible. The positive energy, it just speaks, not only of the team that we have, but to the community in which we operate,” said Holly Jackson, General Manager at the St. Paul Park refinery. “Seeing this many people participate, working hand-in-hand for something like this, is definitely uplifting.”

In 2022, the St. Paul Park refinery presented the nonprofit organization with a $23,000 grant to help restore the 175-acre property that sits just east of Marathon Petroleum’s facility and is home to more than 300 migratory bird species.

“We hope this property will eventually serve as a community space and where local schools can bring their students to learn about the importance of preserving and protecting natural areas,” said Calvin Johnson, Environmental Supervisor at Marathon Petroleum. “Additionally, for us as Marathon employees, it makes you proud to work for a company that’s willing to invest in the community.”

“Seeing this many people participate, working hand-in-hand for something like this, is definitely uplifting.”

In addition to the larger bluffland property, the St. Paul Park refinery has supported FMR in the restoration of a two-acre prairie park that is owned by Marathon Petroleum and has been a certified wildlife habitat since 1998.

For three decades, FMR has worked to conserve the Mississippi River’s watershed in the Twin Cities region.

CHARLOTTE, N.C., August 21, 2023 /3BL/ – As catastrophic rain and storm damage affect the Southwestern United States, Truist Foundation today announced it will donate $50,000 to the Center for Disaster Philanthropy to support relief and recovery efforts for communities impacted by Tropical Storm Hilary. 

“When disasters strike, Truist Foundation is committed to delivering localized care for teammates, clients and communities in affected areas,” said Lynette Bell, president of Truist Foundation. “Truist Foundation’s ongoing partnerships with Center for Disaster Philanthropy and the American Red Cross help ensure those impacted by significant weather events like Tropical Storm Hilary are well supported – from proactive preparation to immediate relief to long-term recovery efforts.”

A portion of the donation will be focused on medium- and long-term community recovery and address needs such as rebuilding public infrastructure, homes and livelihoods; offering mental health services; and supporting other challenges identified as recovery efforts progress. 

Earlier this year, Truist Foundation donated $1 million to the American Red Cross Annual Disaster Giving Program, designed to deploy assistance quickly to communities impacted by events such as Tropical Storm Hilary. Those funds will help provide food, shelter, comfort kits and other immediate relief supplies to thousands of families and individuals impacted by the storm. 

“Truist’s purpose is to inspire and build better lives and communities, and there’s no time more critical to support the communities where many of our teammates and clients live than in the wake of a historic disaster such as Tropical Storm Hilary,” said Jeremy McCaslin, west regional president of McGriff, a subsidiary of Truist Insurance Holdings. “While the full extent of the damage remains to be seen, we know the road to recovery will be long for many families and communities throughout Southern California and surrounding areas. Our hope is that this donation allows our West Coast neighbors to feel Truist’s support.”

About Truist Foundation

Truist Foundation is committed to Truist Financial Corporation’s (NYSE: TFC) purpose to inspire and build better lives and communities. Established in 2020, the foundation makes strategic investments in nonprofit organizations to help ensure the communities it serves have more opportunities for a better quality of life. Truist Foundation’s grants and activities focus on building career pathways to economic mobility and strengthening small businesses. Learn more at Truist.com/Foundation. 

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