ExxonMobil Foundation Announces $5 Million in New Grants in 2007 to Educate Women and Girls in Developing Countries



    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.