At DonorsChoose.org we work closely with many members of the Chevron team to bring the Fuel Your School program to 14 markets across the country. The following is a guest post from Brent Tippen, public affairs representative and Fuel Your School coordinator for Chevron.I am often asked, “Why is Chevron involved in a program like Fuel Your School?” In other words, why does Chevron—an energy company—care about math manipulatives for students in Centerville, Utah or earthworms for a 7th grade biology class in Sacramento, Calif.?The answer is simple: we live in Centerville, Utah. We live in Sacramento, Calif., Pascagoula, Miss., and Miami, and the other communities that benefit from Fuel Your School. It’s also important for the business and the future of Chevron’s workforce to invest in the education of the next generation of engineers, scientists and technology professionals who will be leading the energy industry of tomorrow.The Fuel Your School collaboration with DonorsChoose.org is a prime example of this kind of creative investment. In the month of October, when consumers fueled up with eight or more gallons at a participating Chevron or Texaco gas station in select markets in the U.S.*, Chevron donated $1, up to nearly $7.1 million, to help fund eligible classroom projects in these local communities. Since its inception in 2010, Fuel Your School has affected more than 1 million students in the U.S. Chevron also supports similar marketer-funded programs in Ector County, Texas and Del Norte, Humboldt, Lake and Mendocino counties (North Coast), Calif., as well as similar international programs in Surrey and White Rock, British Columbia, Johannesburg, South Africa, and Johor and Kedah, Malaysia.Fuel Your School has grown each year to support students in additional communities where Chevron has business operations and a strong retail network. I’m proud to have been a part of the initial program that started in Alameda and Contra Costa counties, Calif. in 2010 and I’ve watched Fuel Your School grow year-over-year for a few reasons:
- By collaborating with DonorsChoose.org, we’re able to support local teachers and directly improve student learning by helping to fund the specific classroom materials and supplies that teachers tell us they need.
- Chevron employees help spread the word about this program and encourage support for the schools in their own community, including many schools where employees may have children in attendance and/or where employees already volunteer.
- Community involvement is good for business. Fuel Your School is a program that participating retail stations, and our business units, can engage and cultivate relationships with customers and local communities to support a common cause.
- Ultimately, Chevron’s support of education is tied to the energy industry’s workforce needs, encouraging future engineers and scientists to help develop the next game-changing energy innovations. Helping to fund materials for education, including materials used to teach the STEM subjects - science, technology, engineering and math, the Fuel Your School program plays an important role in Chevron’s commitment to education and delivering hands-on projects and engaging activities to classrooms.
At Chevron we believe good business and corporate responsibility go hand-in-hand. If you’ve seen the conversation on Chevron’s LinkedIn page, you know many of my fellow Chevron employees agree with me. Chevron is proud to invest in local jobs, collaborate with nonprofits and engage our communities directly to address local issues. It’s part of what makes our company unique in the industry, bringing innovative solutions and delivering mutual benefits that underscore our belief in the power of human energy.Follow Chevron’s Fuel Your School on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. * Chevron’s 2013 Fuel Your School program is available only in parts of Alaska, California, Hawaii, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oregon, Texas and Utah. For more information visit www.FuelYourSchool.com.
