The Martinez Renewable Fuels facility launched its signature Hands on for Habitat program, a partnership with Habitat for Humanity East Bay/Silicon Valley that takes high school construction students beyond the classroom and into the world of volunteerism and real-world construction experience. The program benefits more than 100 11^th and 12^th graders enrolled in construction trade programs in the Mount Diablo, Martinez, and Pittsburg school districts located in the San Francisco Bay Area.

“Hands on for Habitat is a unique program that elevates student learning through hands-on experience and community service in a construction setting,” said Nichol Carranza, Advanced Community Investments Rep. at Marathon Petroleum. “Our goal is to help develop the East Bay’s future workforce by introducing students to construction careers while inspiring them to give back to the community where they live.”

Marathon is sponsoring the program for the next three years with a $105,000 investment and has donated an additional $5,000 grant to each participating classroom. Teachers will use the classroom grants to buy new equipment and tools and help modernize the learning experience for students.

“This partnership with Marathon not only develops the next generation of talented tradespeople, but it also offers them a way to build skills while also building community,” said Janice Jensen, President and CEO of Habitat for Humanity East Bay/Silicon Valley. “We’re proud to open our construction sites and offer our expertise to this endeavor and grateful for Marathon’s commitment to this program and Habitat’s overall mission.”

Each school year, students will spend the fall semester developing technical skills in the classroom, learning project management, and exploring career opportunities. In the spring, students will spend a day working at Habitat’s Esperanza Place Development in Walnut Creek. Under the supervision of Habitat’s trained staff, students will apply their classroom knowledge on a real construction site, learning tool skills, site safety and gaining a deeper understanding of the construction industry.

The 42 townhomes of Esperanza Place will give families with limited incomes the chance to own their own homes in the heart of Walnut Creek. Not only will this new neighborhood bring homeownership within reach of families typically priced out of the opportunity, its Zero Net Energy design will ensure it produces more energy than it will consume. It’s the latest in a 35-year history of affordable homebuilding for Habitat for Humanity East Bay/Silicon Valley, during which more than 15,000 people have benefited from their programs and services.

Marathon Petroleum’s Martinez site is currently being converted to a renewable fuels facility. To learn more visit marathonmartinezrenewables.com.