News
Chesapeake Energy Merger Gift
03/19/2006
Chesapeake Energy, Inc. has contributed a $150,000 gift to facilitate the formation of a statewide Big Brothers Big Sisters organization in Oklahoma. Aubrey McClendon, president and CEO, matched the company’s gift, saying, “I know how important this work is for children in need of an adult role model. While an undergraduate at Duke University I had the opportunity to be a Big Brother for a young man with whom I still have a strong relationship.”
The new organization brings together five Oklahoma agencies, Green Country (including Greater Tulsa, Bartlesville and Rogers County), Norman (Cleveland County), Greater Oklahoma City, Shawnee and Stillwater and will enable the agency to serve more Oklahoma children.
McClendon supports the project because of the profound difference it can make in the lives of children. He said, “The new organization’s vision is to provide a Big Brother or Big Sister for every Oklahoma child who needs or wants one. National research shows that children in the program are less likely to use alcohol or drugs, less likely to solve a problem with violence and perform better in school and at home.”
He indicated that Chesapeake and himself were proud to support the program knowing that it will save society the financial burden that comes with juvenile infractions, court costs and confinement not to mention the capital saved because counseling and therapy are minimized.
The new organization’s board is comprised of Murray Abowitz, partner, Abowitz, Timberlake & Dahnke, P.C.; Steve Berlin, Retired CFO, Kaiser Francis Oil Company; David L. Boren, President, The University of Oklahoma; Bob Cantrell, Owner, Robert R. Cantrell Oil Company; Mark Iola, Partner, Stanley, Mandel & Iola, LLP; and Tom J. O’Brien, President, CB Richard Ellis OK.