The amount represents Exxon's three-to-one match for 43 Exxon employee or retiree gifts to the university. The oil company's educational foundation offers the matching funds for employee gifts to 887 colleges and universities. KU is among the top 30 recipients in the program.
David J. McBride, who earned a master's degree and doctorate in geology from KU in 1974 and 1977, will present the check to Chancellor Robert Hemenway at 2 p.m. Friday, May 14 at the Kansas University Endowment Association, 1891 Constant Ave., on KU's West Campus.
McBride, a certified professional geologist, is ventures operations manager for the Exxon Exploration Co. He joined Exxon in 1976. James B. Martin, KU Endowment president, Carl Locke, dean of the KU School of Engineering, Tony Walton, chair of the geology department, and Sally Frost Mason, dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, also will attend the presentation.
The KU Endowment was given more than a million dollars in matched gifts from corporations, foundations and businesses in 1998, according to the most recent available data. Through a matching gift program, an employee's gift is matched by the company to the same recipient in the donor's name. While most companies match the donor's gift one-to-one, some corporations double or even triple, as is the case for Exxon, the donor's original contribution.
In all, KU Endowment received a record $20 million in gifts from corporations, foundations and businesses in 1998.
Contact Todd Cohen, University Relations, (785) 864-8858.