|  | 13 September 2007
Community groups in Gippsland received a funding boost thanks to the volunteering efforts of Esso employees.
ExxonMobil Australia, parent company of Esso, recognises the volunteering work of its employees by providing $1,000 grants direct to the community organisations nominated by its employees under the company’s Volunteer Involvement Program.
Employees from Esso’s Longford facility and offshore platforms successfully applied for the volunteering grants to assist sixty Gippsland schools, kindergartens, CFA’s, SES, Surf Life Saving Clubs and community groups such as the Sale City Band and Neighbourhood Watch. Over 4,000 volunteer hours were contributed by Esso employees to help these groups in the past year.
Around $20,000 of the Esso grants were allocated to Gippsland schools and kindergartens. Longford and Sale Primary School will use the Esso grant to upgrade computer equipment and Sale College will get new seats for its performing arts centre. Other primary schools receiving an Esso grant include Gormandale & District, Seaspray, Stratford, Araluen, St Mary’s, St Patrick’s (Stratford) and Nambrok-Denison.
Emergency services in Gippsland were some of the biggest winners in the volunteering grants program, which reflects the large number of Esso employees involved with CFA and SES services. Esso employees provided over 1,800 volunteer hours in the past year to help fire fighting and rescue work. Over $20,000 will assist Gippsland CFA and SES groups to purchase rescue equipment, including Stradbroke, Sale Longford, Loch Sport and Seaspray Brigades and SES Units in Maffra, Stratford and Sale.
Esso’s employee volunteering grants will also benefit other local groups to purchase new equipment and upgrade facilities. Neighbourhood Watch will use its Esso grant to buy new signs, Longford pre-school will install safety glass for its doors and East Gippsland Road Safety Council will purchase new bike helmets and safety vests.
Mike Kunzig, Esso Longford Plants Manager, said that Esso’s employee volunteering grant program is an example of one of the ways that the company supports local community groups in areas where we operate.
“Many of our employees are active community volunteers and we are pleased to recognise the time and effort they give to community groups,” he said.
A record number of ExxonMobil Australia employees applied for the volunteering grants this year, which totaled $158,000. ExxonMobil employees in Australia gave over 10,000 hours of their personal time to support community initiatives.
Media contact:
Lisa Trood 03 9270 3440
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