ExxonMobil Recognized for Long-Standing Investment in LSU
BATON ROUGE – ExxonMobil presented a check for $1.3 million to the LSU Foundation this semester as part of the ExxonMobil Foundation’s 2015 Educational Matching Gift Program and its departmental grant program.
The gift represents donations of $358,452 made by 173 employees, retirees and surviving spouses, along with the ExxonMobil Foundation 3-to-1 match to LSU. The gift also includes $57,000 from the ExxonMobil departmental grant program to support students in the E. J. Ourso College of Business, the College of Engineering, the College of Science and the Olinde Career Center.
ExxonMobil is among the most generous corporate donors to LSU, having invested nearly $5.6 million over the past five years through departmental grants, faculty-sponsored research and its educational matching program. This continued investment demonstrates ExxonMobil’s commitment to LSU’s mission of educating the world’s future leaders especially in the areas of engineering, business, and science.
The ExxonMobil Foundation Educational Matching Gift Program has provided more than $600 million to higher education since 1962. Under the program, the ExxonMobil Foundation provides three-to-one unrestricted, matching funds for donations to U.S. colleges and universities with whom employees or retirees are affiliated. LSU has consistently been one of the program’s top beneficiaries.
“Quality education is the foundation for individual opportunity and economic prosperity,” said Ben Soraci, president of ExxonMobil Foundation. “We have a long history of supporting education excellence in the country, including our investment LSU. It’s a shared priority, year after year, with ExxonMobil employees.”
“On behalf of LSU’s students, we thank ExxonMobil for their continued support of our students and programs,” said Rick Koubek, executive vice president and provost at LSU. “Their support reiterates our mutual commitment to expand the pipeline of talented and diverse graduates who are both well prepared and ready to solve society’s greatest challenges.”
In addition to the ExxonMobil Foundation employee matching gift program and the departmental grant program, local ExxonMobil refinery employees lend their expertise to LSU by serving as mentors and volunteers through the Engineering Diversity Scholars Program and other volunteer opportunities. To date, the company has committed $750,000 to the ExxonMobil Scholars Program, a mentorship-centered approach to scholarship that provides students from underrepresented groups access to a network of industry professionals who are committed to ensuring their time at LSU is a success. Other areas supported by ExxonMobil include the LSU Gordon A. Cain Center for Scientific, Technological, Engineering and Mathematical Literacy; and, the GeauxTeach Math/Science teacher preparation program offered through the College of Science.
About the ExxonMobil Foundation
The ExxonMobil Foundation is the primary philanthropic arm of Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM) in the United States. The foundation and corporation engage in a range of philanthropic activities that advance education, promote women as catalysts for economic development and combat malaria. In the United States, ExxonMobil supports initiatives to improve math and science education at the K-12 and higher education levels. In 2015, the ExxonMobil Foundation together with Exxon Mobil Corporation, its divisions and affiliates along with employees and retirees, provided $268 million in contributions worldwide. www.exxonmobil.com/community.
###
For more information, contact Ernie Ballard, of LSU Media Relations, at eballa1@lsu.edu or 225-578-5685.