ExxonMobil employees and retirees honored by Dallas CASA

Dallas CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) honored ExxonMobil and its employees and retirees with the prestigious Judge Barefoot Sanders Champion of Children Award at The Ritz-Carlton, Dallas, on Oct. 23.

Named for legendary Dallas judge Harold “Barefoot” Sanders, the Champion of Children Award honors leaders who have significantly impacted the lives of children. The award is traditionally given at the Champion of Children Award Dinner, an event bringing together the best of Dallas’s business, judicial, legal and philanthropic communities to celebrate the honoree’s contributions toward improving children’s lives.

Honorary Co-Chairs The Hon. Harriet O’Neill and Randall Stephenson, Chairman & CEO of AT&T, present the Champion of Children Award to Rex Tillerson, Chairman & CEO of ExxonMobil. Tillerson accepted the award on behalf of ExxonMobil’s vast employee network.

“On behalf of all of us at ExxonMobil, it is an honor to receive the Judge Barefoot Sanders Champion of Children Award,” said Rex W. Tillerson, chairman and chief executive officer of Exxon Mobil Corporation. “At CASA, ExxonMobil-affiliated volunteers have found a valued partner who shares our ideals and our commitment to action.”

Prior to the event, generous sponsors and underwriters provided more than $450,000 in support of the dinner, which benefited Dallas CASA volunteers serving as voices in court for abused and neglected children living in foster care. More than 500 friends of Dallas CASA attended the 15th annual event.

Dallas attorney Tom Luce, Chairman of the National Math and Science Initiative and a past recipient of the Champion of Children Award, introduced honorary co-chair Randall Stephenson, Chairman and CEO of AT&T, who noted ExxonMobil’s commitment to children both locally and internationally. Stephenson and the other honorary co-chair, Harriet O’Neill, Justice (Retired), Supreme Court of Texas, presented this year’s award to Tillerson, who accepted it on behalf of ExxonMobil and its employees and retirees.

The Hon. Harriet O’Neill speaking at the event.

ExxonMobil’s support of children worldwide is far-reaching and ranges from improving math and science education in the United States to supporting prevention, treatment and advocacy programs in the fight against malaria in less-developed countries.

Last year, ExxonMobil and its employees and retirees provided more than $8.6 million in contributions and more than 23,000 volunteer hours to support the North Texas community, with many employees and retirees dedicating their time and talents to the boards of these organizations, including Dallas CASA. Since 1993, ExxonMobil has provided volunteers and board members who have been invaluable to growing Dallas CASA’s ability to serve abused and neglected children.

Kathleen LaValle, CASA Board Member, presents the annual rubber ducky, the traditional favor handed out at the Champion of Children Award Dinner.

“It’s such an honor to recognize our wonderful friends at ExxonMobil who are the essence of thoughtful, worthy community involvement, who give of their hearts, their wisdom and their time so that children may have a better life now and in the future,” said Beverly Levy, Dallas CASA President and Executive Director.

Also in attendance were Texas Supreme Court Justices Eva Guzman and Debra Lehrmann, Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings and Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins, as well as many local corporate leaders and numerous federal, state and local judges. The evening highlighted Dallas CASA volunteer advocates’ critical role in improving the lives of abused and neglected children in Dallas County.

Dallas CASA is grateful to the following sponsors for their generous support prior to this outstanding event.