IRVING, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 19, 2007--ExxonMobil Foundation announced today that it will make an additional $5 million in grants available to organizations dedicated to improving education and opportunities for women and girls in developing countries.

ExxonMobil's 2007 grants will bring the total commitment for its Educating Women and Girls Initiative to $11.5 million since its inauguration in 2005. ExxonMobil has a long tradition of social contributions and investments in the communities where the company has operations with over $100m in community and social development programs in Africa since 2000. Projects funded by the Educating Women and Girls Initiative help to reduce barriers that prevent girls from attending school and provide women with training to start or improve businesses and nonprofit organizations.

"We launched the Educating and Women and Girls Initiative because an extensive body of research demonstrated that expanding education and resources for women and girls is one of the most effective ways to promote health and development," said Rex Tillerson, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Exxon Mobil Corporation. "Now, we are beginning to see the benefits of our earlier investments and are taking steps to increase the reach and impact of our programs to benefit even more women and girls."

The announcement of the new funding was made by Roberta Luxbacher, ExxonMobil's Director of Europe Gas and Power Marketing, during the Vital Voices Pan-African Leadership Summit in Cape Town, South Africa. ExxonMobil is sponsoring 50 women and girls to attend this historic summit. "Given ExxonMobil's long history in Africa, we understand the value of expanding education and training of women and girls," said Luxbacher. "As one of the largest direct foreign investors in Africa, ExxonMobil understands it makes sense to foster economic growth and improve health on the continent - it is good for our employees, our neighbors and our customers."

"This level of private sector commitment is crucial to raising awareness of issues affecting women worldwide," said Melanne Verveer, chairman of the board of the Vital Voices Global Partnership. "Public-private partnerships are necessary if we want to ensure full participation of women in society."

World Bank studies confirm that programs directed at educating women and girls yield a higher rate of return than any other community investment available in the developing world. Educated women are healthier and less likely to die in childbirth than women with little or no schooling. The children of educated mothers are more likely to have better nutrition and immunization rates and to live longer and healthier lives. Educating women and girls has also been shown to help improve sanitation, prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS, and improve household incomes and economic growth.

Note to Editor

ExxonMobil has a long presence on the African continent and its operations have made the company one of the largest private foreign investors in Africa. The continent accounts for more than 25 percent of ExxonMobil's net liquids production and is the largest growth area in the company's production portfolio. ExxonMobil Foundation is the primary philanthropic arm of Exxon Mobil Corporation. The Foundation engages in a broad range of philanthropic activities focusing on the communities where Exxon Mobil Corporation has significant operations. During 2005, ExxonMobil, its affiliates and ExxonMobil Foundation provided $133 million in charitable contributions and community investment worldwide.

Vital Voices Global Partnership invests in emerging women leaders - pioneers of economic, political, and social advancement in their countries - and builds the capabilities, connections, and credibility they need to unlock their potential as catalysts of global progress. Through leadership development and local empowerment programs around the world, Vital Voices works to expand women's roles in generating economic opportunities, increasing political participation and protecting human rights.

Copyright Business Wire 2007

ExxonMobil

ExxonMobil

ExxonMobil is a global company with approximately 86,000 employees and a presence in close to 200 countries and territories. We have an industry-leading inventory of discovered oil and gas resources and an impressive portfolio of growth opportunities. We are the largest refiner and marketer of petroleum products and the leading manufacturer of lubricating oil basestocks. Our chemical company ranks among the world's largest petrochemical enterprises. Our organization structure is built on a concept of global businesses and is designed to allow ExxonMobil to compete most effectively in the ever-changing and challenging worldwide energy industry.

More from ExxonMobil