In the News
Chevron Donates $500,000 to Support California Firefighting Efforts
SAN RAMON, Calif., October 10, 2008 - Chevron Corporation (NYSE:CVX) announced today that it has donated $500,000 to the State of California's Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) to help support the cost of battling the state's severe wildfires this year.
"On behalf of the people of California, I offer Chevron my sincere thanks for its generous donation to support our state's firefighting efforts in the face of one of the most difficult and costly fire seasons in history," Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger said. "California has the most courageous and best trained firefighters in the world, and we must ensure they are equipped with the resources needed to protect our communities. The cooperation during this year's fires has been fantastic, and I am pleased to see private support because as Californians, we are all in this situation together."
The Chevron donation is in response to the more than 2,000 fires this summer that engulfed nearly 1.2 million acres across the state - several times the annual average - and required the response of firefighters from CAL FIRE, local firefighters and other volunteers.
"As a California company, we're grateful for the courage and determination of California firefighters who put themselves at risk to protect our state and its resources," said Chevron vice chairman Peter Robertson. "This contribution is, in part, recognition of their outstanding public service."
The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection is dedicated to the fire protection and stewardship of more than 31 million acres of California's privately-owned wildlands. The Department's firefighters, fire engines, and aircraft respond to an average of more than 5,600 wildland fires each year. Those fires burn more than 172,000 acres annually.
"I am pleased with this demonstration of Chevron's commitment to public safety and partnership with CAL FIRE," said Chief Ruben Grijalva. "Wildfires and other disasters strike California all too often. With support from public and private organizations, such as Chevron, CAL FIRE stands ready to prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters that may impact all Californians. Chevron's demonstration of corporate responsibility serves as a great example of public/private partnerships within California's emergency response community."
Chevron has a history of providing support when natural disasters occur in the state, most recently a $500,000 grant from the Chevron Foundation in October 2007 for relief efforts related to the Southern California wildfires. In addition to the monetary support in 2007, Chevron also provided 20,000 bottles of water, 11,500 meals and a firefighting team and engine was dispatched from the Richmond Refinery.
To further support fire safety and prevention, Chevron will introduce a fire truck as its next Chevron Toy Car with packaging that will include fire safety tips for children.
Chevron Corporation is one of the world's leading integrated energy companies, with subsidiaries that conduct business worldwide. The company's success is driven by the ingenuity and commitment of approximately 62,000 employees who operate across the energy spectrum. Chevron explores for, produces and transports crude oil and natural gas; refines, markets and distributes transportation fuels and other energy products; manufactures and sells petrochemical products; generates power and produces geothermal energy; provides energy efficiency solutions; and develops the energy resources of the future, including biofuels and other renewables. Chevron is based in San Ramon, Calif. More information about Chevron is available at www.chevron.com.
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Some of the items discussed in this press release are forward-looking statements about Chevron's activities in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico. Words such as "anticipates," "expects," "intends," "plans," "targets," "projects," "believes," "seeks," "estimates," "budgets" and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. The statements are based upon management's current expectations, estimates and projections; are not guarantees of future performance; and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and other factors, some of which are beyond the company's control and are difficult to predict. Among the factors that could cause actual results to differ materially are changes in prices of, demand for and supply of crude oil and natural gas; actions of competitors; results of additional testing; timely development of the field; the potential disruption or interruption of testing and development activities due to accidents, political events, civil unrest, or severe weather; government-mandated restrictions on scope of company operations; and general economic and political conditions. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. Unless legally required, Chevron undertakes no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.