Community Partners

Torrance Refining Company is committed to being an active member of the community in which we operate. The Refinery supports several civic organizations, STEAM-based programs in Torrance schools and contributes to 50 nonprofit organizations including United Way Greater Los Angeles, Marine Mammal Care Center Los Angeles, Cabrillo Marine Aquarium, Switzer Learning Center, Sharefest, Torrance-South Bay YMCA, and many more. The Refinery has an active volunteer program that facilitates opportunities for employees and retirees to serve the community throughout the year.

Ambassador High School

Ambassador High School is a rigorous college-prep high school that provides a rigorous education focused on excellence in Student Leadership, Academics, Athletics, and the Arts.

American Cancer Society Relay for Life

American Cancer Society works to find a cure for cancer. The Relay For Life movement is ACS’s signature fundraiser. Through funds donated, time given, or awareness raised, communities rally together to help find a cure for cancer and support those impacted by it.

Beacon House Association of San Pedro

The Beacon House Association of San Pedro helps men recover from the diseases of alcoholism and addiction to other drugs by providing food, shelter, counseling, and the time to build a foundation in recovery and return to family, home and community.

California State University Dominguez Hills

Part of the California State University system, CSUDH provides education, scholarship and service that are, by design, accessible and transformative. CSUDH is located in the city of Carson, and is the prominent university in the South Bay. TORC has been a sponsor of CSUDH’s Presidential Scholarship Program, which award funds to students who demonstrate academic excellence, community and campus involvement, and strong leadership qualities.

El Camino College Foundation

The El Camino College Foundation is a non-profit organization whose mission is to develop community relationships and raise funds to support El Camino College students’ success in education and life. ECC Foundation is focused on supporting student scholarships, academic programs and STEM education.

El Nido Family Centers

El Nido Family Centers is a non-profit agency working to empower families in low-income communities of Los Angeles County to break the cycle of poverty, child abuse, violence, academic failure, and teen pregnancy through outstanding educational, youth development, health and therapeutic services.

Happy Hats for Kids in Hospitals

Since 1991 Happy Hats for Kids in Hospitals, a nonprofit located in Torrance, has been dedicated to uplifting the spirits and easing the fears of hospitalized children fighting cancer and other critical illnesses. Providing kids in hospitals with their heartwarming and whimsical gifts of Hero Club Happy Hats and a Hero Club 60-page bilingual/educational activity book with crayons. Festive Holiday themed Happy Hats are also gifted to the children on six holidays each year when they are not able to celebrate at home with their families.

Their unique Happy Hats are decorated by corporate employees, girl scouts, nursing students and other local volunteers in the community. All gifts are given free of charge to over 50 hospitals throughout the United States: including Torrance Memorial Medical Center, Providence Little Company of Mary, Miller Children’s Hospital, Harbor-UCLA Medical Center. Happy Hats for Kids is proud to also serve the children at Providence Kids Care Hospice during the end of their life’s journey.

Harbor Interfaith Service

The mission of Harbor Interfaith Services is to empower the homeless and working poor to achieve self-sufficiency by providing support services including shelter, transitional housing, food, job placement, advocacy, childcare, education, and life-skills training. TORC partners with HIS on addressing the issue through support of UWGLA’s HomeWalk.

Kiwanis Foundation Inc.

Torrance Kiwanis is a service club that empowers its members to pursue creative ways to serve the needs of children and the community. Torrance Kiwanis supports the Torrance schools and its students, and Torrance Refinery has been a long supporter of Kiwanis, sponsoring its Celebration of Community event that recognizes nonprofits committed to providing outstanding service and assistance to the community.

Kontrapunktus

Kontrapunktus is a conductorless orchestra comprised of classical musicians who perform a unique repertoire of Baroque music intended to entertain and inspire people from all walks through their exemplary talent and sublime artistry. TORC is a proud sponsor of Kontrapunktus’ concerts in Torrance.

Marine Mammal Care Center

MMCC LA has a multi-faceted education program, operating partly in conjunction with LAUSD to educate students, teachers, and the general public about marine science and the animals cared for at our facility. MMCC works to increase public awareness on various environmental issues and the importance of ocean conservation.

North Torrance Little League

North Torrance Little League (NTLL) is a chartered league of Little League Baseball Incorporated that provides an exciting youth baseball experience for players 4 to 14 years of age who reside in North Torrance. In addition to funds donated by TORC to support NTLL, Torrance Refinery employees volunteer to support the parents who coordinate the games for the young athletes.

Rotary Club of Torrance Del Amo

Rotary Club is a network of neighbors, friends, leaders and problem-solvers who see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change. Rotary Torrance Del Amo is focused on helping to address the needs of the Torrance community.

Sensory Integration Education Research Fund 

Sensory Integration Education and Research Foundation (SIERF) is a non-profit organization that assists parents, educators, medical professionals, peace officers and the public to understand children and adults with special needs. TORC has been a sponsor of SIERF’s Backpack Giveaway during the summer to help those with special needs.

Sharefest Inc.

Sharefest is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to empower under-served youth to transform their future and become leaders of collaborative community change through their youth programs. TORC has been a proud sponsor of Sharefest’s Annual Gala and its newly developed Youth Center.

South Bay Children’s Health Center

South Bay Children’s Health Center (SBCHC) works to meet the most pressing unmet healthcare needs of low-income children in the South Bay by offering dental, hearing, vision and special services clinics as well as mental health services for children in the South Bay.

South Bay Center for Counseling (PTECH)

SBCC empowers communities across Los Angeles to discover and develop tools for individual and collective well-being through its full range of innovative, grassroots programs and initiatives that reach families. SBCC’s programs are based on a belief that sustained positive impact must be resident-led and community-driven.

South Coast Botanic Garden Foundation, Inc.

The South Coast Botanic Garden Foundations helps to sustain the Garden, which provides a unique horticultural and wildlife habitat experience and whose goal is to represent a model of excellence for land reclamation and sustainability.

Switzer Learning Center

Located in Torrance, California, The Switzer Learning Center is a nonpublic school and behavioral health center that specializes in meeting the needs of neurodiverse children and teens with unique learning styles while supporting their emotional development with uniquely tailored programs.

Each student works with a highly trained team of credentialed special education teachers, licensed psychologists, licensed speech and language pathologists, certified Crisis Prevention Intervention behavior specialists and other team members as needed.

In a caring, supportive, and individualized academic program, students learn to develop their strengths and build upon their successes. The Center has helped thousands of students of all ages and learning abilities achieve their academic and personal goals on a state-of-the-art campus.

South High School Robotics Team (TorBots)

South High School Robotics team is a students’ club that gives the students hands-on experience in robotics and engineering. TorBots participates in robotics competitions held by FIRST each year. Over the years, Torrance Refinery has sponsored TorBots in this fun educational endeavor.

Torrance Area Chamber of Commerce 

Torrance Area Chamber of Commerce leads the way as the premier business organization in the South Bay area serving small businesses and large corporations. TACC members span all industries and TACC helps to provide businesses with the tools and opportunities they need to gain visibility, credibility, and profitability. Torrance Refinery has been a long-time active member of TACC, sponsoring many of its events and supporting its programs through employees serving on the Board.

Torrance Council of PTAs

TCPTA has 30 unit PTAs consisting of the PTAs across the TUSD schools. The purpose of the council is to provide leadership training, coordination of the efforts of the units and with their efforts with other agencies and organizations, cooperation in promoting the common interests of the units and conference regarding common problems.

Torrance Unified School District (TUSD)

Torrance Unified School District consists of 17 elementary, 8 middle, 4 high schools, and 1 continuation and 1 alternative high school. The District also has 3 adult school campuses. TUSD is dedicated to maximizing individual potential and developing lifelong learners who will be contributing members in a global society. TORC’s signature programs such as the Innovation Education Grant Program, and Girls Cardboard Regatta benefit TUSD’s educators and students.

 

Torrance Sister City Association

Torrance Sister City Association has been promoting friendship, goodwill, and understanding between the City of Torrance and the City of Kashiwa, Japan. The relationship now spans generations, and the cultural exchange program continues.

Torrance Firefighters Association 

Torrance Firefighters Association is a nonprofit that supports the City of Torrance Firefighters. TORC has been a supporter of TFFA’s Spaghetti Dinner that benefits Alisa Ann Ruch Burn Foundation and its Champ Camp, a week-long, residential summer camp experience for child burn survivors ages 5-17, who have been treated at California hospitals or are current residents of California.

Torrance Rose Float Association

Torrance Rose Float Association (TRFA) supports the City of Torrance’s participation in the annual Pasadena Rose Parade. TRFA raises money to fund the creation and decoration of the City of Torrance’s float.

Torrance Cultural Arts Center Foundation

TOCA’s mission is to enrich the lives of all those within the City of Torrance and surrounding communities through the performing arts. Torrance Refining Company has been a major sponsor of TOCA’s South Bay Festival of the Arts and supports the organization through volunteer Board service by a Refinery employee.

Torrance Education Foundation

Torrance Education Foundation (TEF) is an independent nonprofit entity that works to unite the Torrance community in financially supporting its award-winning public schools. Torrance Refinery has been a long-time supporter of TEF, sponsoring its major fundraising events to benefit Torrance students.

United Way of Greater Los Angeles

United Way of Greater Los Angeles’ mission is to permanently break the cycle of poverty for our most vulnerable neighbors: low-income families, students, veterans and people experiencing homelessness. Torrance Refinery has been a sponsor of UWGLA’s HomeWalk since its inception, a 5K walk/run to bring awareness to and raise funds toward addressing homelessness in L.A. County.

Volunteer Center – South Bay-Harbor-Long Beach

The Volunteer Center recognizes the value of empathy and service to others, and has been “at the heart of helping” for more than 50 years, referring thousands of volunteers to both traditional and court-referred service opportunities. The organization supports youth literacy and recently launched a youth mental health focus. Torrance Refinery has supported The Volunteer Center’s programs, including Operation Teddy Bear and its current focus on mental health through sponsorship of its annual gala and an employee’s volunteer service on the Board.

West High School Robotics Team

West Torrance Robotics participates in two robotics competitions held by FIRST each year. Students get the opportunity to experience the many components to robotics and engineering such a Design, Manufacturing, Programming, Business and Public Relations. In 2020, TORC sponsored West High’s Robotics Team.

Torrance-South Bay YMCA

The Torrance-South Bay YMCA strengthens communities through our programs for youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility. The Y is one of the largest, most diverse non-profit community service organizations in the region. Torrance Refining Company (TORC) has been the presenting sponsor for its “Send Kids to Camp” Golf Tournament, which raises funds to help send underprivileged kids to its summer camp. Additionally, employees have dedicated their time, skills and knowledge through serving on the “Y” Board.