Exxon gives Southern $89,550

ExxonMobil presented Southern University with a check for $89,550 Friday as part of the corporation’s three-to-one matching gift program from employees and retirees.

The majority of the money will go toward needs-based scholarships. However, the university will honor donations designated for specific purposes, said Margaret Ambrose, special assistant to the chancellor of Southern’s Baton Rouge campus.

Exxon’s gifts to the campus have risen steadily over the past three years — from $44,000 in 2010 and $65,000 in 2011 — as Southern has expanded its alumni database and gotten more aggressive in seeking donations, Ambrose said.

“Everyone is aware of the dire straits higher education is in right now,” she said.

Exxon and Southern have had a long partnership with the company, awarding internships to students and sponsoring the university’s annual Bernard Harris Summer Camp, a math- and science-intensive program for middle school students.

“We look forward to coming back every year and presenting you with a matching gift check,” Exxon employee and Southern alumnus Wilbert Ferdinand Jr. said.

Comments

1) Comment by mikeford - 05/05/2012

Ms. Ambrose character and integrity are beyond reproach. If Ms. Ambrose was the administrator of the scholarship program, donations would go through the roof. However, she is not the administrator, she is a spokesperson for the university. Most likely this money will be under the control of the S U foundation and will likely be used as a slush fund for scholarships for the relatives of board members, politicians and there cronies and girlfriends. If Mason is serious about raising funds he would make public the amount of money in the S U foundation and what it is being used for on a timely basis. But if he tries to be honest at S U he would end up getting fired. Remember hundreds of thousands of dollars came up missing from a fund for a new alumni house after the funds were co-mingled with the money in the foundation. Remember over one hundred thousand dollars of foundation money was used to defend former board members accused of sexual harassment, and please don't forget the foundation funds spent for suites at Essence Festival.