ExxonMobil gives more to MSU

STARKVILLE — Alumni and friends of Mississippi State University (MSU) employed by ExxonMobil continue to support the university in a big way. The Irving, Texas-based corporation recently donated $167,937, which represents matching funds for contributions during 2008 made by its MSU-educated employees and retirees or their surviving spouses.

The funds are among some $36 million being provided to 900 colleges and universities across the United States through the ExxonMobil Foundation’s 2008 Educational Matching Gift Program.

“The matching that ExxonMobil provides to employees for financial gifts made to universities is tremendous,” said Bagley College of Engineering dean Sarah Rajala.

MSU has received more than $1.7 million through the ExxonMobil program since it began in 1962. In 2008, together with its employees and retirees, the company and its divisions, affiliates and foundation provided $225 million in contributions worldwide, of which more than $89 million was dedicated to education.

The ExxonMobil Foundation is the primary U.S. philanthropic arm of the ExxonMobil Corp. It supports initiatives to improve mathematics and science education at the K-12 and higher education levels.