Matching Gifts From ExxonMobil Foundation To Baylor Hit $5 Million Mark

Contact: Cindy Dougherty, Assistant Vice President, University Development, (254) 710-2561

ExxonMobil's most recent matching gift to Baylor University brought the entity to more than $5 million in cumulative gifts given to the university through the ExxonMobil Foundation's Educational Matching Gift Program. More than $370,000 was given this year as a three-to-one match of gifts made by the company's employees and retirees.

In a June 12 ceremony, Baylor recognized the philanthropy of ExxonMobil and its employees and retirees who utilize the generous matching gifts program to benefit Baylor students.

"I thank the many ExxonMobil employees, past and present, who partnered with their company to support Baylor and its mission," said Dennis Prescott, vice president for development at Baylor. "By helping the ExxonMobil family to support the Baylor family, the individuals who take advantage of this program make a difference in the lives of Baylor students everyday."

Waco resident and retired ExxonMobil executive Joe Spivey (BBA '48) and his wife, Joan, shared at the ceremony how they were able to triple their contributions to the Joe and Joan Spivey Endowed Scholarship Fund in Baylor's Hankamer School of Business.

In addition to a check presentation by Baylor alumna Beth Casteel (BA '86, BBA '87), assistant treasurer of ExxonMobil Chemical Co., the ceremony also featured the induction of ExxonMobil Foundation into the Judge R.E.B. Baylor Society within the Medallion Fellowship at the Silver Level.

"The ExxonMobil Foundation through its matching gifts program is helping to improve math and science education in the U.S.," Casteel said. "The Foundation is targeting math and science programs in response to this country's growing need to produce more engineers and scientists and to develop more highly qualified math and science teachers to train our youth."

ExxonMobil and its employees donated more than $36 million to 930 colleges and universities across the United States through the ExxonMobil Foundation's 2007 Educational Matching Gift Program. More than $7.7 million of that sum went to 79 colleges and universities in Texas. Since its inception in 1962, the program has provided more than $372 million to higher education in the United States.

Though ExxonMobil's program is one of the most generous, more than 7,500 companies offer matching gift programs to their employees. Baylor University received more than half a million dollars from matching gifts last year.

To find out more about matching gifts to Baylor University, visit www.matchinggifts.com/baylor or contact University Development at (254) 710-2561. Gifts, including matching gifts, may be securely made online at www.baylor.edu/onlinegiving.