Louisiana's oil and natural gas industry is stepping up to support Louisiana communities struggling with economic and health challenges during the COVID-19 outbreak. From donations to local organizations and non-profits to contributions of much-needed PPE for healthcare workers on the front line, LMOGA member companies from across the state are committed to supporting our communities during this crisis. Our member's contributions locally have already totaled over $1 million as part of millions more in investments made worldwide.

The BP Foundation will donate $2 million USD to the WHO’s COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund, which supports medical professionals and patients worldwide by providing critical aid and supplies. The Solidarity Response Fund also helps track and understand the spread of the COVID-19 virus and supports efforts to develop tests, treatments, and ultimately, a vaccine.

In an effort to assist communities across Southeast Louisiana amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Chevron’s Gulf of Mexico Business Unit has committed $350,000, in total, to Bayou Community Foundation, Northshore Community Foundation, Northshore Food Bank and Second Harvest Food Bank to supply resources to local families and individuals in need.

ExxonMobil is helping to meet demand for products like medical hand sanitizers, alcohol wipes and disinfectant sprays by manufacturing a key ingredient, isopropyl alcohol (IPA), and providing it to the customers and areas that need it most. In Louisiana, ExxonMobil is partnering with GOHSEP to coordinate this effort.

The IPA will be delivered by Brenntag Southwest to Elayn Hunt Correctional Center where Prison Enterprises will blend and package the product to make thousands of bottles of hand sanitizer for distribution. As part of a commitment to help flatten the curve during this trying time, ExxonMobil has also made hand sanitizer donations to the local school system and the Baton Rouge Health District.

ExxonMobil has also partnered with the Global Center for Medical Innovation (GCMI), a non-profit member of the University System of Georgia to expedite the development of PPE that can be sterilized and worn multiple times. The new industrial-style mask is being fast-tracked for production. Once approved by the FDA, production will begin immediately, with ExxonMobil supporting the identification of manufacturers familiar with the materials and process to quickly deliver the masks to doctors, nurses and healthcare providers. Manufacturers indicate they will be able to produce as many as 40,000 ready-to-use masks and filter cartridges per hour. The ExxonMobil Baton Rouge Chemical Plant is proudly supplying the polypropylene for this project.

Marathon Petroleum Corporation (MPC) has responded to the COVID-19 pandemic by donating personal protective equipment to healthcare providers and contributing $1 million to the American Red Cross through Marathon Petroleum Foundation, Inc. Starting the week of March 23rd, Marathon Petroleum deployed its entire stock of personal protective equipment (PPE) to hospitals, healthcare organizations and its own facilities across the country. Over 575,000 pieces of PPE, including N95 respirator masks and gloves have either been delivered or are in transit to 45 hospitals and healthcare organizations in 20 states.

Phillips 66 Lake Charles Manufacturing Complex, along with other industrial companies, recently donated needed, critical, medical supplies for healthcare providers to remain healthy as they fight the coronavirus on the front lines. PPE including nearly 10,000 pairs of surgical gloves, almost 100 respirators, over 400 protective suits, 90 P100 filters, 100 white Tyvek coveralls, as well as 6,000 N95 masks are among the quantities and types of supplies donated.

Phillips 66 in Lake Charles also donated $40,000, in total, to the Family & Youth Counseling Agency, United Way’s Coronavirus Response Fund, and the Community Foundation’s Emergency Relief Fund. Funds donated to United Way of Southwest Louisiana or Community Foundation of Southwest Louisiana will support the diligent work of local non-profits on the frontlines of this crisis: daily meals at Salvation Army of Lake Charles, Mount Olive Baptist Church, Care Help of Sulphur, God’s Food Box in DeRidder and the Calcasieu Council on Aging or Walmart gift cards for groceries from Catholic Charities are some examples of current nonprofits receiving support from these relief funds.

Sempra Energy Foundation has committed up to $250,000 to help small to medium-sized nonprofits in Louisiana as they continue to serve critical needs related to the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) situation. The grants for Louisiana nonprofits will be part of a larger $1.75 million Nonprofit Hardship Fund from the Sempra Energy Foundation that will be made available to charities in the areas of the United States where Sempra Energy and its family of companies operate.

Valero Energy Corporation and the Valero Energy Foundation are committing $300,000 to support local organizations in the greater New Orleans area on the front lines of COVID-19 pandemic response. The support is part of an overall $1.8 million commitment to help people who need it most, primarily in cities where the company operates. In addition, Valero also is providing gas cards to selected charitable organizations to provide access to essential fuels and products for their operations.

We are all in this fight together in Louisiana, and the people of our energy industry are vital in efforts to stop the spread and treat COVID-19. From the products made possible by the energy we produce to investments in our communities, the industry is humbled to be a part of response efforts to fight this global pandemic.