EL PASO, Texas — Marathon Petroleum’s El Paso refinery is continuing its partnership with Texas Tech Health El Paso to provide free dental care for children and adults in underserved communities. Now in its fourth year, the initiative has already benefited more than 1,200 individuals, offering essential dental services at no cost.
The collaboration centers on the Hunt School of Dental Medicine’s Oral Health Clinic, where dental students treat patients while learning to deliver compassionate, long-term care.
“If you can make the experience of a child coming to the dentist a positive one, it works for a lifetime,” said Dr. Richard Black, founding dean of the Hunt School of Dental Medicine. “That’s one of the things we train our students to do.”
Funding from Marathon Petroleum Corporation (MPC) has made these free dental services possible. Since the dental school opened in 2021, MPC’s support through the Marathon Dental Patient Fund has helped provide cleanings, x-rays, screenings, dental kits, and follow-up care. Many recipients had never been to a dentist before.
One of the young beneficiaries, 10-year-old Marco, expressed his appreciation: “I want to be a dentist when I grow up to make people smile, make them happy and clean their teeth so they can smile every day.”
According to Janine Young, senior director of corporate and foundation relations at Texas Tech Health El Paso, the need is urgent. El Paso County has just one dentist for every 3,053 residents—far fewer than the state average of one per 1,750 in similar counties.
“Marathon’s fund allows us to combat challenges to accessibility and affordability,” Young said. “Without this support, we wouldn’t be able to offer these services.”
The next free dental care event at the Oral Health Clinic is scheduled for later this year. It will again be funded by MPC, which boosted its support with a $50,000 grant in late 2024.
Young noted that Marathon’s ongoing commitment has encouraged other foundations, companies, and individuals in El Paso to join the effort, increasing both funding and awareness.
