Charities and champions: the year in review 2011

Dec. 1, 2011
As we wrap up another year at Oil & Gas Financial Journal, I'd like to once again recognize the companies, organizations, and individuals mentioned in this column throughout the year.

As we wrap up another year at Oil & Gas Financial Journal, I'd like to once again recognize the companies, organizations, and individuals mentioned in this column throughout the year. I am delighted to have spoken to and learned from executives and companies so gracious in their contributions to various organizations in the pursuit of helping others.

The year started off with a profile of Chevron in its third year as title sponsor of The Chevron World Challenge. The tournament brought together some of golf's finest players to benefit various education-focused nonprofits. Through the inaugural Eagles For Education initiative, the company donated $530,000 for eagles scored at the tournament.

P2 Energy Solutions also put a spotlight on education. The company awarded a $578,000 in-kind contribution to the Business Administration Program of Western State College of Colorado to help equip students majoring in land and resource management with skills needed to fill positions in oil, gas, and alternative energy.

ExxonMobil, in its continuous quest to encourage math and science education, donated $500,000 to the Teach For America program in four regions across the country to help recruit, train, and support science and math educators. Of that, $125,000 was granted to Teach For America-Houston.

ConocoPhillips championed the cause by sponsoring the ConocoPhillips Rodeo Run, an event held each year prior to the famed Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo™. This year, the company raised $360,000 for the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo™ Educational Fund.

Education was also on the mind of OK-based Devon Energy. Celebrating its 40th anniversary, the company developed a $40K for Kids program set to offer eight $40,000 education grants to nonprofit organizations or schools in areas where it has field operations.

Back in Houston, a myriad of oil and gas industry-related companies are credited with providing aid in various forms to Cristo Rey Jesuit, part of a national network of schools offering a rigorous, college-preparatory education combined with a corporate work-study program to empower students from economically challenged families.

Empowering students with an eye on the future of transportation, Shell held the fifth annual Shell Eco-marathon® Americas in downtown Houston. More than 700 students teaming up in fuel-efficient vehicles they'd designed, built, and tested in hopes of traveling the farthest distance using the least amount of energy.

Other companies supported children through other entities.

Canada's Cenovus Energy committed $1.3 million to the Alberta Children's Hospital Foundation to help experts in the fight against childhood cancer. NiSource Gas Transmission & Storage awarded a $20,000 grant to Camp For All to help improve the camp's ropes challenge course. Camp For All is a unique camping and retreat facility that works to provide life changing programs for children and adults with challenging illnesses and special needs.

Later in the year, Cabot Oil & Gas matched $10,000 in community donations to assist True Friends Animal Welfare Center in keeping quality animal welfare services in Susquehanna and Wyoming Counties, PA.

Finally, Swift Worldwide Resources celebrated its first "Swift Day" in which it traded a day in the office for a day serving the community. Two of the Houston office's teams ventured to the Houston Food Bank where they were responsible for preparing 2,159 pounds of food.

Year after year I am encouraged by the participation of the industry in my column and in the community. Thank you to the organizations, the companies, and the individuals; your work is truly appreciated. I look forward to hearing from even more of you in 2012.

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About the Author

Mikaila Adams | Managing Editor - News

Mikaila Adams has 20 years of experience as an editor, most of which has been centered on the oil and gas industry. She enjoyed 12 years focused on the business/finance side of the industry as an editor for Oil & Gas Journal's sister publication, Oil & Gas Financial Journal (OGFJ). After OGFJ ceased publication in 2017, she joined Oil & Gas Journal and was named Managing Editor - News in 2019. She holds a degree from Texas Tech University.