ExxonMobil, the world's largest energy company, has announced that it and its employees and retirees made contributions totaling more than $26 million to 932 colleges and universities across the United States in 2004.

The ExxonMobil Foundation's 2004 Educational Matching Gift Program provided more than $18.6 million in unrestricted grants to match the $7.7 million in individual contributions by employees, retirees, surviving spouses, and directors. Under the program, an employee or former employee can give up to $5,000 a year to a college or university with which he or she is affiliated, and the foundation will match the gift on a 3-to-1 basis. The affiliate requirement is waived for gifts to the United Negro College Fund, the Hispanic Scholarship Fund, and the American Indian College Fund. In response to the popularity of the program in 2004, the foundation has announced that in 2005 it will increase the contribution amount per employee to $7,500.

"Supporting education initiatives is of the highest priority to ExxonMobil and our employees," said foundation chair Kenneth P. Cohen. "This commitment is demonstrated through our matching gift program, which provides funds to educational institutions for improvements and the advancement of learning opportunities. We commend ExxonMobil employees for their generous contributions and their support of higher education."