XOM Exxon Mobil Corp

ExxonMobil and the Tom Joyner Foundation celebrated the $1 million contribution milestone that has provided scholarships to students attending Historical Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). To mark the occasion, Gerald McElvy, president of ExxonMobil Foundation, was featured during the Tom Joyner Sky Show on June 17 in Houston where he spoke about ExxonMobil's commitment to diversity and education. Since 2001, ExxonMobil has provided a yearly grant of $200,000 to the Tom Joyner Foundation. Beginning this year ExxonMobil's contributions are solely dedicated to students majoring in math, science, engineering and related fields. "ExxonMobil is committed to helping improve career opportunities for students from under represented populations," said McElvy, "Throughout the past five years, our partnership with the Tom Joyner Foundation has enabled us to make a difference in the lives of a significant number of African American students by providing them with funding to achieve their college aspirations." The Tom Joyner Foundation provides money directly to HBCUs to help students complete their higher education. Each month, a different HBCU is selected to receive funds in order to award financial scholarships to deserving students. The scholarships are granted through the college or university's financial aid department based on students' financial needs and academic achievements. Scholarship recipients are announced monthly during a live radio broadcast of the Tom Joyner Morning Show which is aired in 115 markets reaching nearly 8 million listeners every week. With ExxonMobil's contribution, the Tom Joyner Foundation is able to provide $18,000 in scholarship funds to a selected HBCU each month. In addition to this financial assistance, ExxonMobil's donation helps more African-American students complete their higher education and reduce student drop-out rates at participating HBCUs as a result of financial strain. "ExxonMobil shares the same dedication and commitment as the Tom Joyner Foundation to helping young African American students succeed in getting a degree from an institute of higher learning," said Tom Joyner, founder of the Tom Joyner Foundation and host of the Tom Joyner Morning Show. "We are grateful for their ongoing support of the foundation and look forward to continuing our partnership." Formed by nationally syndicated radio personality Tom Joyner, the continuing mission of the foundation is to assist institutions in broadening and strengthening their efforts to raise money to help keep students attending HBCUs until graduation, despite rising costs of education. Since 1998, the Tom Joyner Foundation has raised more than $25 million and helped some 80 colleges and thousands of deserving students. To date, the foundation has assisted every HBCU, defined as "any historically black college or university established prior to 1964, whose principal mission was, and is, the education of black Americans." For more information please visit http://www.BlackAmericaWeb.com. ExxonMobil Foundation is the primary philanthropic arm of Exxon Mobil Corporation in the United States. The Foundation engages in a broad range of philanthropic activities focusing on the communities where Exxon Mobil Corporation has significant operations. In addition, the Foundation supports research and dissemination on selected topics of interest to the energy industry. Focus areas include education, health and environment. In 2004, ExxonMobil Foundation, Exxon Mobil Corporation, and its divisions and affiliates provided $106.5 million in contributions worldwide, with more than $40 million dedicated to education.