I've worked for ExxonMobil (EM) for about 25 years and I get frustrated sometimes with the negative press the company receives. The liberal media, Obama and Biden like to bash EM. They don't have a clue, and I could rant on and on about that. Anyway, there was a nice article in the Houston Chronicle today about a recent United Way Day of Caring volunteer event at a local day care for homeless children. The volunteers working the event work in the Tax Department with me and several of my friends are named in the article. There are many, many stories about how ExxonMobil employees step up to help in our communities and also about how we help each other, too. I'm glad this story made the press. This is the real ExxonMobil.
'We are working to make change together'
United Way projects get back on track after Hurricane Ike
By ALLAN TURNERCopyright 2008 Houston Chronicle
Oct. 10, 2008, 11:21PM
Sweat beaded Leona Guy's face as she drove her rake into the mulch. Pulling back, her arms contorted into gnarled ropes of powerful muscle. Well, OK. Maybe not. The Exxon Mobil employee's hands are more accustomed to calculating taxes than manhandling nature. But, in a sense, that's the point.
Friday brought Guy and about 45 of her tax-office colleagues to a Houston day care center for homeless kids as part of United Way of Greater Houston's 2008 Days of Caring. One of about 20 Exxon Mobil groups participating in the massive outpouring of volunteer labor, the tax squad by midmorning was in full swing — fence-building, painting and gardening. The project, among hundreds citywide that were interrupted by Hurricane Ike, was one of the first to get back on track in the storm's wake.
Exxon Mobil is among dozens of Houston businesses that encourage workers to turn out for the annual fall cleanup, paint-up, fix-up campaign.
"Before the hurricane," said Steve Lopez, leader of the tax office team, "we were going to do some landscaping, painting and work on the gutters. But Ike completely knocked down their fence. We had planned to paint the gutters, now we'll have to repair them."
Counting on volunteers Chuck Kroen, who coordinates the energy company's participation in United Way projects, said the workers will return later this month to finish the job. United Way spokeswoman Anne Neeson said approximately 300 Days of Caring projects had been scheduled before the hurricane struck.
Fifty had been completed, but the rest were put on hold. Already, 100 have been rescheduled. All should be completed within three months.
"In our experience, when it rains, it takes about six weeks to get everything straightened out," Neeson said. "This is more than raining. I've been doing this a long time, and I'm always astounded and very gratified. They always get rescheduled.
"Volunteers know the agencies are counting on them."
Guy, who has joined Days of Caring efforts for 14 years, suggested Hurricane Ike lent added fervor to this year's campaign. "I think people have even more passion," she said. "It opened your heart up. People volunteering, with all the negative things in the world, warms your heart. We are working to make change together."
On Friday, the tax squad was working at The House of Tiny Treasures, a south Houston day care center operated by Search Homeless Services.
Helping the kidsSearch Executive Director Thao Costis lauded the United Way and the volunteer workers for their assistance.
"We're very grateful," she said. "They've responded to the needs created by Ike. They've come forward to provide help."
Search has operated the day care center, which provides early childhood development services to children ages 1 to 5, since 1992, Costis said. This year, 32 children are enrolled in the program.
'We are working to make change together'
United Way projects get back on track after Hurricane Ike
By ALLAN TURNERCopyright 2008 Houston Chronicle
Oct. 10, 2008, 11:21PM
Sweat beaded Leona Guy's face as she drove her rake into the mulch. Pulling back, her arms contorted into gnarled ropes of powerful muscle. Well, OK. Maybe not. The Exxon Mobil employee's hands are more accustomed to calculating taxes than manhandling nature. But, in a sense, that's the point.
Friday brought Guy and about 45 of her tax-office colleagues to a Houston day care center for homeless kids as part of United Way of Greater Houston's 2008 Days of Caring. One of about 20 Exxon Mobil groups participating in the massive outpouring of volunteer labor, the tax squad by midmorning was in full swing — fence-building, painting and gardening. The project, among hundreds citywide that were interrupted by Hurricane Ike, was one of the first to get back on track in the storm's wake.
Exxon Mobil is among dozens of Houston businesses that encourage workers to turn out for the annual fall cleanup, paint-up, fix-up campaign.
"Before the hurricane," said Steve Lopez, leader of the tax office team, "we were going to do some landscaping, painting and work on the gutters. But Ike completely knocked down their fence. We had planned to paint the gutters, now we'll have to repair them."
Counting on volunteers Chuck Kroen, who coordinates the energy company's participation in United Way projects, said the workers will return later this month to finish the job. United Way spokeswoman Anne Neeson said approximately 300 Days of Caring projects had been scheduled before the hurricane struck.
Fifty had been completed, but the rest were put on hold. Already, 100 have been rescheduled. All should be completed within three months.
"In our experience, when it rains, it takes about six weeks to get everything straightened out," Neeson said. "This is more than raining. I've been doing this a long time, and I'm always astounded and very gratified. They always get rescheduled.
"Volunteers know the agencies are counting on them."
Guy, who has joined Days of Caring efforts for 14 years, suggested Hurricane Ike lent added fervor to this year's campaign. "I think people have even more passion," she said. "It opened your heart up. People volunteering, with all the negative things in the world, warms your heart. We are working to make change together."
On Friday, the tax squad was working at The House of Tiny Treasures, a south Houston day care center operated by Search Homeless Services.
Helping the kidsSearch Executive Director Thao Costis lauded the United Way and the volunteer workers for their assistance.
"We're very grateful," she said. "They've responded to the needs created by Ike. They've come forward to provide help."
Search has operated the day care center, which provides early childhood development services to children ages 1 to 5, since 1992, Costis said. This year, 32 children are enrolled in the program.
House of Tiny Treasures draws its young clients from families who are served by Search or other social service organizations. The children's parents must be employed, looking for work or attending classes, Costis said.
Exxon Mobil volunteer Mary Casares said she was aware of the magnitude of the needs of homeless children through her work with Catholic Charities.
"There are many reasons that we are out here," she said. "The big one is simply to help our community. We are very fortunate to have homes and jobs."
allan.turner@chron.com
Exxon Mobil volunteer Mary Casares said she was aware of the magnitude of the needs of homeless children through her work with Catholic Charities.
"There are many reasons that we are out here," she said. "The big one is simply to help our community. We are very fortunate to have homes and jobs."
allan.turner@chron.com
