Local Program Highlights
In 2021, Hess’ global assets and Houston operational headquarters engaged in a variety of local social investment activities based on community development priorities and involving local stakeholders. The following are selected highlights.
Winter Storm Relief in Houston
Hess donated $1 million to the 2021 Houston Harris County Winter Storm Relief Fund and $1 million to the Houston Food Bank following the severe winter storm that significantly impacted communities already suffering from the pandemic’s economic effects. We also matched donations made by employees through our matching gift program.
Food Security in Malaysia
Hess continues to support the work of MyKasih Foundation in Malaysia to benefit impoverished families. In 2021, we contributed to its “Love My Neighbourhood” food aid program, and our funding helped approximately 200 households in Kelantan purchase seven months’ worth of essential supplies.
Scholarships and Educational Programming through the Jackie Robinson Foundation
As part of Hess’ longstanding commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion, we announced a $1.4 million grant to the Jackie Robinson Foundation (JRF) in 2021. The grant includes $1 million to support the new Jackie Robinson Museum being built in New York City, which will serve as a venue for innovative educational programming and dialogue on critical social issues. The remaining $400,000 will provide four year scholarships and support services to five underrepresented college students as part of the JRF scholarship program. In addition, Hess will provide internship opportunities for JRF Scholars, with a goal of five Hess JRF Scholar internships per year starting in 2022.
STEM Teaching Tools in North Dakota
In partnership with North Dakota state education officials and the governor’s office, Hess provided toy trucks to every public elementary school in North Dakota for the 2021–2022 academic year. We have been shipping these trucks since 2018 as science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) teaching tools that accompany a corresponding STEM curriculum designed by Baylor College of Medicine’s Center for Educational Outreach. The materials provide teachers with ready made plans for STEM educational opportunities and help children learn about energy efficiency, kinetic energy and other STEM lessons.
Educational Programs and Services in Houston
In Houston, Hess announced a $9 million financial commitment over the next three years as part of our Learning for Life Partnership. We are funding educational programs and support services for children in three underserved communities that are part of the Houston mayor’s Complete Communities Initiative. Learning for Life will benefit approximately 22 schools and more than 13,000 children from prekindergarten through high school in Houston’s Third Ward, Magnolia Park-Manchester and Second Ward Complete Communities neighborhoods.
Learning for Life expands the scope and reach of Hess’ Learn, Engage, Advance, Persevere educational program, a $7.4 million investment made over the previous eight years that supported students in the Magnolia Park-Manchester and Second Ward neighborhoods.
Learning for Life will fund STEM equipment and curricula, teacher training, computer equipment, mentorship programs, accreditation initiatives, career and life guidance counseling, and other support. It also will provide full scholarships for nine high school seniors each year to pursue a college degree or vocational certification and support work study programs at the University of Houston and Texas Southern University in the Third Ward.
Gulf of Mexico Sustainability Programs in Texas and Louisiana
Hess continues to work with the Gulf of Mexico Alliance (GOMA) to support the sustainability and health of the Gulf’s aquatic resources, primarily through programs that help to improve water quality and clean up marine waste. In 2021, we supported the GOMA Gulf Star program’s Water Watch and citizen science water quality initiatives for the fourth year in a row with a $50,000 donation. We also sponsored the water bottle refill stations installed in Lafourche Parish schools in southern Louisiana.
Among the Water Watch accomplishments, we created a second volunteer lab in Mandeville, Louisiana, and held more than eight outreach activities. In Texas, we expanded macro and micro sampling sites to seven, hosted eight community workshops and held over 500 surveys for small plastic pellets, often called nurdles. In both states, we have trained more than 600 volunteers.
College Apprenticeships in North Dakota
Job Experience Training (JET) is an apprenticeship program developed by Hess in 2017, in collaboration with Bismarck State College, to develop local, qualified reliability operators in North Dakota. Since inception, 31 apprentices have entered the JET program, 17 have completed the apprenticeship and 16 have transitioned to be Hess employees. Of the Hess employees, none have left the company for another operator, eight have reached their two year anniversary with Hess and three have been promoted. Given the success of the program, we made an additional investment of $50,000 in 2021. We plan to fund eight new JET apprentices and begin offering positions in mechanical maintenance and instrumentation in 2022.
The JET program was recognized in 2018 by the U.S. Department of Labor as an official Registered Apprenticeship Program – the first such program in North Dakota’s oil and gas industry. As a result, all JET apprentices now earn a U.S. Department of Labor credential formally recognizing their efforts.
Capacity Building in Guyana
In 2021, our Stabroek joint venture continued to provide social and economic benefits to the people of Guyana. This included the Greater Guyana Initiative (GGI), a $100 million commitment over 10 years to expand capacity building efforts and promote sustainable economic development in the country. Efforts include programs that partner with local institutions within Guyana’s Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) sector, the Centre for Local Business Development (CLBD) and the University of Guyana. The GGI will also focus on supporting regional initiatives and capacity development of diverse sectors including health and agriculture.
The CLBD continued its support for local businesses. In 2021, the CLBD issued 205 business opportunity notifications to about 3,400 Guyanese businesses registered on its Supplier Registration Portal. The CLBD continued to offer short courses to local businesses and also progressed its ISO 9001 mentorship program. Additionally, the CLBD introduced its American Petroleum Institute mentorship program in November 2021.
Support for the University of Guyana included the launch of 18 “Zoom Rooms” to facilitate remote learning, an initiative to improve campus safety and security and the engagement of experienced industry persons to serve as professors. A TVET pilot program in electrical and welding was launched at several government TVET institutes.