IRVING, Texas -- The ExxonMobil Foundation has made a $1 million contribution toward a new helicopter for Memorial Hermann Life Flight in Houston.
Tom Flanagan, COO of Memorial Hermann TMC, underscored the need to add to the fleet. We provide this rescue service to everyoneregardless of their ability to payand we want to continue to do so. That's why we've initiated a fundraising campaign to help us meet the increased demand for this great service.
The new helicopter will join the Life Flight fleet and will allow faster service [image-nocss] to the east Houston area. The ExxonMobil grant represents approximately 15% of the $7 million total cost of a new Life Flight helicopter, including land for the base location, hanger and outfitting equipment.
Life Flight was established in 1976 as only the second helicopter air medical program in the United States. Now into its 30th year of operation, the men and women of Life Flight have flown more than 110,000 patient missions. With the help of emergency medical services, fire departments, law enforcement and community hospitals, Life Flight currently operates four air medical helicopters in the Southeast Texas area, capable of carrying two patientsa key feature that only Memorial Hermann Life Flight helicopters have in the Greater Houston area.
Also, the 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.
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 ExxonMobil. 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.
The UNCF's mission is to provide financial support to its 39 member institutions and increase minority degree attainment by reducing financial barriers to college. It 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 more than 900 colleges and universities across the country.
Separately, CITGO Petroleum Corp. has donated $500,000 to the Community Service Council of Tulsa. The gift will support and strengthen Conecciones, a Hispanic educational and workforce initiative project.
We met with Mayor Kathy Taylor to identify a project that would support CITGO's philosophy to give back to our communities and demonstrate our ongoing commitment to the city of Tulsa, said CITGO President and CEO F alix Rodr a guez. We chose Conecciones because it will have a positive long-term effect on the community. We recognize that the roots of our company are deeply embedded in Tulsa and, because of that, we continue to feel a commitment to our birthplace.' Conecciones will help us extend that commitment.
The Conecciones program is working to enhance the academic success of Hispanic students, enabling them to achieve their full potential as role models, mentors, employees and community leaders. The program is designed to benefit Hispanics from birth to the workforce and to engage Hispanic families, working closely with schools and other community resources, to better assist their children to assure educational and employment success.
The program works directly with individual schools sites in the Will Rogers High School service area in creating conditions to improve learning outcomes for their growing Hispanic student population.Reading skills, family support, good nutrition, health care and other issues will be addressed based on the needs and opportunities in each school and neighborhood.
[Pictured: Jayme Sanchez presents the ExxonMobil Foundation's $1 million check for Memorial Hermann Life Flight to Memorial Hermann COO Tom Flanagan and Memorial Hermann Foundation President Ileana Trevino.]
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