Publicly owned companies, like many U.S. refineries, have a fiduciary responsibility (which is a legal obligation) to act in the best interest of their shareholders, and that extends to how companies spend their earnings. Often, earnings are spent on a combination of the following: direct dividends, stock buy back programs, paying down debt and capital investment projects.
Marathon Petroleum Corporation has a longstanding tradition of supporting community and educational initiatives around the country, such as the Boys & Girls Club in Carson and Los Angeles Harbor, California.