- link Copy Url - [ Share on twitter ](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=Galveston Bay Team Helps Make Dream Come True for First-Time Homeowner https://www.3blmedia.com/markdownify/node/1262421?absolute=1&via=3blnews "link to 3 B L Media's Twitter") - [ Share on linkedin ](https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://www.3blmedia.com/markdownify/node/1262421?absolute=1 "link to 3 B L Media's Linkedin") - [ Share on facebook ](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://www.3blmedia.com/markdownify/node/1262421?absolute=1 "link to 3 B L Media's Facebook") - [ email Share via email ](mailto:?subject=Galveston Bay Team Helps Make Dream Come True for First-Time Homeowner&body=ESG News from Marathon Petroleum https://www.3blmedia.com/markdownify/node/1262421?absolute=1 "Share via email") [Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives](/CSR-News/philanthropy-cause-initiatives) # Galveston Bay Team Helps Make Dream Come True for First-Time Homeowner Jun 3, 2024 2:20 PM ET ![" "](/sites/default/files/styles/carousel_2x/public/images/AprilHome_marathon_060324.png "Marathon Petroleum employees Iman Montgomery (left), Dave Leaver, (center) and Cory Bush (right) with new homeowner April Laijas at the April 17 home dedication event. Photo credit: Adam Presley, Photographer") ![" "](/sites/default/files/styles/carousel_2x/public/images/Aprilfamily_marathon_060324.png "April and her two daughters were happy to have their home completed. Photo credit: Adam Presley, Photographer") ![" "](/sites/default/files/styles/carousel_2x/public/images/DaveLeaver_marathon_060324.png "Dave Leaver speaks at the home dedication ceremony for the family in Texas City. Photo credit: Adam Presley, Photographer") ![" "](/sites/default/files/styles/carousel_2x/public/images/habitat_marathon_060324.png "April joins employee volunteers from Marathon Petroleum last fall to raise the walls to her new home in Texas City. Photo credit: Adam Presley, Photographer") ![" "](/sites/default/files/styles/carousel_2x/public/images/wallraising_marathon_060324.png "Over a dozen employee volunteers from Marathon Petroleum took part in the wall raising portion of construction with April and Habitat for Humanity in Texas City. Photo credit: Adam Presley, Photographer") ![" "](/sites/default/files/styles/carousel_thumbnail_x2/public/images/AprilHome_marathon_060324.png?h=73545cb6 "Marathon Petroleum employees Iman Montgomery (left), Dave Leaver, (center) and Cory Bush (right) with new homeowner April Laijas at the April 17 home dedication event. Photo credit: Adam Presley, Photographer") ![" "](/sites/default/files/styles/carousel_thumbnail_x2/public/images/Aprilfamily_marathon_060324.png?h=73545cb6 "April and her two daughters were happy to have their home completed. Photo credit: Adam Presley, Photographer") ![" "](/sites/default/files/styles/carousel_thumbnail_x2/public/images/DaveLeaver_marathon_060324.png?h=73545cb6 "Dave Leaver speaks at the home dedication ceremony for the family in Texas City. Photo credit: Adam Presley, Photographer") ![" "](/sites/default/files/styles/carousel_thumbnail_x2/public/images/habitat_marathon_060324.png?h=73545cb6 "April joins employee volunteers from Marathon Petroleum last fall to raise the walls to her new home in Texas City. Photo credit: Adam Presley, Photographer") ![" "](/sites/default/files/styles/carousel_thumbnail_x2/public/images/wallraising_marathon_060324.png?h=73545cb6 "Over a dozen employee volunteers from Marathon Petroleum took part in the wall raising portion of construction with April and Habitat for Humanity in Texas City. Photo credit: Adam Presley, Photographer") - **Marathon Petroleum’s Galveston Bay refinery partnered with Bay Area Habitat for Humanity Houston to fulfill the dream of a single mother who wanted to purchase her own home.** - **In addition to sponsoring the habitat build, employee volunteers from Marathon Petroleum took part in building the three-bedroom home in Texas City.** - **This marked the 172nd home built through the non-profit and its community partners since the program launched in 1991.** Born and raised in Galveston County, Texas, April Laijas had always dreamed of owning her own home. On Tuesday, April 16, 2024, that dream came true for the single mother of two when she received the keys to her brand-new house in Texas City. “As a single mom watching home prices always going up, I wasn’t sure if this day would ever be possible,” Laijas said. “I am beyond excited to start making memories with my girls that we will cherish for years to come.” The path to her new reality was made possible through the [Bay Area Habitat for Humanity in Houston](https://www.bahfh.org/ "Bay Area Habitat for Humanity in Houston") (BAHFH), with support from local businesses like Marathon Petroleum’s Galveston Bay refinery, a sponsor of the project. Families interested in purchasing a home through BAHFH must meet certain criteria. Members of the household are required to give 300 hours of “sweat equity” toward building the home as well as other Habitat homes and attend specific financial budgeting and homeownership courses. “From start to finish, this has been such a rewarding process to be involved in,” said Vice President of Refining Dave Leaver. “It’s an incredible feeling to know our people played a role in helping to make this family’s dream come true.” About a dozen employee volunteers from Marathon Petroleum took part in construction of the three-bedroom home, which broke ground in late 2023. Refinery Maintenance Foreman Cory Bush took it a step farther by donating a washer and dryer to April and her family. “So many people in our community came together to support this deserving mom and her two girls,” Bush said. “To see the smiles on their faces at the dedication event was such a powerful moment to witness and something I will never forget.” This marked the 172nd home dedicated by BAHFH since the non-profit was founded in 1991. “We are so grateful to all who came together to build this beautiful home,” said Megan Scheffer, Executive Director of Bay Area Habitat for Humanity Houston. “Every nail, every hand and every dollar helped turn April's dream of homeownership into reality, and we could not have done this without you.” [![Marathon Petroleum logo](/sites/default/files/Clients/MarathonLogo101918.JPG)](/profiles/marathon-petroleum-corporation) ### More from Marathon Petroleum ###### [Environmental Stewardship: Marathon Pipe Line Sustainable Landscapes Program Reaches 10,000-Acre Goal](/news/environmental-stewardship-marathon-pipe-line-sustainable-landscapes-program-reaches-10000-acre) Mar 31, 2026 1:15 PM ET ###### [St. Paul Park Refinery Supports Local Schools in Opening Doors to Career Exploration](/news/st-paul-park-refinery-supports-local-schools-opening-doors-career-exploration) Mar 19, 2026 3:30 PM ET ###### [Our People: Chemical Engineer Amanda Cavazos Helps Drive Innovation and Safety at the Anacortes Refinery](/news/our-people-chemical-engineer-amanda-cavazos-helps-drive-innovation-and-safety-anacortes) Feb 26, 2026 8:30 AM ET ###### [MPLX Trucking Fleets Deliver for Ute Tribe’s Youth](/news/mplx-trucking-fleets-deliver-ute-tribes-youth) Feb 16, 2026 2:00 PM ET ###### [Catching for a Cause Spreads Hope for Kenai’s Food Bank and Community](/news/catching-cause-spreads-hope-kenais-food-bank-and-community) Feb 5, 2026 5:10 PM ET ###### [Our People: Building Culture and Community With Jordan Boon](/news/our-people-building-culture-and-community-jordan-boon) Jan 27, 2026 4:10 PM ET ###### [Marathon Petroleum’s Garyville Refinery Helps Inspire Hundreds of Local Students at National Manufacturing Day Event](/news/marathon-petroleums-garyville-refinery-helps-inspire-hundreds-local-students-national) Jan 21, 2026 5:20 PM ET ###### [Marathon Petroleum Recognized as a Top Company for Women To Work in Transportation](/news/marathon-petroleum-recognized-as-a-top-company-women-work-transportation) Dec 23, 2025 1:00 PM ET