Former President William J. Clinton was presented with the United Negro College Fund's Frederick D. Patterson Award from Rex Tillerson, Chairman and CEO of Exxon Mobil Corporation during UNCF's 63rd Annual Awards Dinner in New York. ExxonMobil was the presenting sponsor of the UNCF dinner. (Photo: Business Wire)

Former President William J. Clinton was presented with the United Negro College Fund's Frederick D. Patterson Award from Rex Tillerson, Chairman and CEO of Exxon Mobil Corporation during UNCF's 63rd Annual Awards Dinner in New York. ExxonMobil was the presenting sponsor of the UNCF dinner. (Photo: Business Wire)

IRVING, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Exxon Mobil Foundation donated $1 million to the United Negro College Fund (UNCF) in support of the organization’s efforts to increase minority degree attainment by reducing financial barriers to college. The company made the contribution at the UNCF’s 63rd Annual Awards Dinner in New York on March 9, where it was the presenting sponsor. This year’s Annual Awards Dinner raised $2.6 million in support of the organization.

The Annual Awards Dinner brings together 1,400 friends and supporters of UNCF, including board members, college presidents, corporate partners, students and alumni. This year, former Presidents George H.W. Bush and William J. Clinton were presented with UNCF’s highest honor, The Frederick D. Patterson Award. The award is given to individuals and corporations who have demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to the expansion of educational opportunities to deserving young men and women.

“ExxonMobil has been a long time supporter of UNCF, and we are proud to recognize their ongoing commitment to breaking barriers and improving opportunities for young men and women to obtain their education,” said Rex Tillerson, Chairman and CEO of Exxon Mobil Corporation. “A mind is a terrible thing to waste, and a wonderful thing to save. UNCF has helped save minds, and it is because of this dedication that we are pleased to present this gift of $1 million to UNCF, so that they may continue aiding deserving minority students in the quest to achieve their goals.”

ExxonMobil believes that education is the key to opportunity and achievement and is committed to programs and organizations that focus on math and science education, with a particular emphasis on increasing opportunities for women and minorities. UNCF is one of many outreach programs that ExxonMobil promotes in an overall effort to increase levels of education excellence.

“On behalf of the thousands of young men and women who will be able to go to college because of ExxonMobil’s support, I want to express our gratitude,” said Michael L. Lomax, Ph.D., UNCF’s president and CEO. “ExxonMobil’s commitment is not only a generous donation but a wise investment,” he added. “Thanks to ExxonMobil, thousands of students will get their college degrees and launch the kinds of careers—as doctors, scientists, computer software designers and medical researchers—that every community and the national economy need many more of.”

ExxonMobil is committed to supporting programs and organizations, such as UNCF, that focus on the improvement of education from pre-school through higher educational levels. ExxonMobil is making a concentrated effort to help build a diverse future workforce that is equipped with the necessary math and science skills to meet the needs and expectations of a growing population.

About UNCF

As the nation’s oldest and most successful minority higher education assistance organization, the United Negro College Fund’s mission is to provide financial support to its 39 member institutions and increase minority degree attainment by reducing financial barriers to college. UNCF institutions and other historically black colleges and universities are highly effective, awarding 25 percent of African-American baccalaureate degrees. UNCF administers more than 300 programs, including scholarship, internship and fellowship programs, mentoring, summer enrichment, and curriculum and faculty development programs. Today, UNCF supports more than 65,000 students at over 900 colleges and universities across the country. For more information about UNCF, please visit www.uncf.org.

About ExxonMobil Foundation

ExxonMobil Foundation is the primary philanthropic arm of the Exxon Mobil Corporation in the United States. The Foundation and the Corporation engage in a range of philanthropic activities that advance education, health and science in the communities where ExxonMobil has significant operations. In the United States, ExxonMobil supports initiatives to improve math and science education at the K-12 and higher education levels. Globally, ExxonMobil provides funding to improve basic education and combat malaria and other infectious diseases in developing countries. In 2006, Exxon Mobil Corporation, its divisions and affiliates, and ExxonMobil Foundation provided $139 million in contributions worldwide, with $54 million dedicated to education. Additional information on ExxonMobil’s community partnerships and contributions programs is available at http://www.exxonmobil.com/community.