IRVING, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 26, 2002--Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM) has contributed $211,000 to schools in California through ExxonMobil's Educational Alliance program. Four hundred twenty-two (422) grants in the amount of $500 each were awarded to schools nominated by local Exxon- and Mobil-branded service stations.

"Business-education partnership programs are now in 69% of all school districts in America," explained Dan Merenda, president of the National Association of Partners in Education. "Research shows that programs like Educational Alliance are making a difference in U.S. schools."

The use of a $500 Educational Alliance grant is designed to be flexible and is left to the discretion of the school officials. The needs of a rural area school may be very different than the needs of an inner city or suburban school.

In 2002, schools requested Educational Alliance grants for a wide variety of equipment and programs. Equipment for computers, science and marine laboratories, sports, music classes and environmental studies were funded with grants. Grant money was also used for programs including art, theater performances, reading, language and incentive programs.

Special projects that stretch beyond academics came to fruition by using Educational Alliance grants. Schools used the funds for clothing and food for students, emergency crisis kits, leadership and teacher training, tutoring and transportation.

"Educational Alliance is one of our most popular programs among our service station owners and operators," said Jim Carter, U. S. Regional Director, ExxonMobil Fuels Marketing Company. "They understand the importance of being an active community member."

Educational Alliance is one of many educational programs that ExxonMobil supports around the world. Numerous grants, scholarships, employee volunteers and matching gift programs help to improve the quality of education from kindergarten through college.

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