1.26.2007 - 04:45pm ET

(CSRwire) January 26, 2007- Imperial Oil is pleased to announce the company, in partnership with its employees and retirees, contributed close to $3 million to the 2006 United Way-Centraide campaigns across Canada.

"Our employees and retirees have once again demonstrated outstanding support and spirit for United Way. Their tireless efforts and generosity have made this another successful year for Imperial’s campaign," said Tim Hearn, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Imperial Oil. "We have a long history of contributing to United Way in Canada because we have seen for ourselves what a difference their services can make to people across this country."

Imperial’s 2006 campaign included numerous innovative employee activities from coast-to-coast such as participating in Days of Caring projects, bake sales, clothing drives, and canoe races.

As well, on September 16, 2006, 425 Esso-branded retail gasoline sites in Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, and Halifax participated in the Esso United Way Day. On this day Imperial contributed one cent for every litre of gasoline purchased and a further $1 from each car wash sold to United Way organizations across Canada. The day raised approximately $186,000 nation-wide.

United Way-Centraide is a non-profit organization located in 125 Canadian centres. Each United Way-Centraide works locally to find solutions to community problems by mobilizing volunteers, identifying community needs and raising and distributing funds. The money raised this year will help children and youth, senior citizens in need, families and abused women, disabled and homeless people as well as newcomers to Canada.

Imperial Oil contributed more than $12 million to enhance the well-being of communities across Canada in 2006, building on a tradition of corporate giving that began with the company’s inception in 1880. More than 125 years later, Imperial is supporting organizations from coast-to-coast with an emphasis on education, environment, and the community. Imperial's goal is to contribute to building a life-long learning system in Canada that ranks among the best in the world.

For more information about Imperial's community investment activities, please visit www.imperialoil.ca