Chevron: a patron of the arts.

CHEVRON

A Patron of the Arts

The Chevron Cos. in Utah have been honored recently for their support of the arts both locally and nationally. On April 17, 1991, the Salt Lake Area Chamber of Commerce awarded Chevron its 1991 Honors in the Arts award. Chevron is only the fourth corporate recipient of the award in its 11-year history, joining KSL, Questar, and U.S. West.

For many years, Chevron has supported the Salt Lake Acting Co., Utah Opera Co., Ballet West, the Utah Symphony, Pioneer Theatre Co., Children's Dance Theatre, KUED, KUER, and several museums and other arts and cultural organizations in Utah. Lance Gyorfi, Chevron's former refinery manager, accepted the award on behalf of the company's employees.

Chevron in Utah

Chevron has provided Utahns with petroleum products and service for more than 100 years. Chevron's operations in Utah represent a cross-section of its worldwide interests, including producing fields in eastern Utah; pipeline facilities to bring crude oil into the Salt Lake Valley and to carry products into markets in northern Utah, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington; a refinery in North Salt Lake; and marketing operations and service stations throughout Utah. Chevron owns a phosphate mine north of Vernal that supplies phosphate for its fertilizer plant in Rock Springs, Wyo. It also owns American Gilsonite Co., which mines gilsonite for use in inks, paints, resins, and other specialty uses. Altogether, Chevron employs nearly 600 people in Utah with an annual payroll in excess of $25 million.

Committed to the Arts

The Salt lake Acting Co. has nominated Chevron for the 1991 National Business in the Arts award. Sponsored by the Business Committee for the Arts, the National Business in the Arts award honors companies which have a history of supporting the arts around the country.

Chevron's support for the Salt Lake Acting Co. (SLAC) began just two years ago. "I was new to the state and had not heard of SLAC before. Our managers had season tickets and told me about not only the quality of the productions, but their history of doing emerging, thought-provoking shows," said Hugh Dickey, public-affairs manager for Chevron in Utah. "I attended a few shows and was quickly sold on the idea that we should add SLAC to the list of arts organizations we support. Since then, we have never been disappointed, and in fact we are very pleased with the relationship which has developed."

SLAC nominated Chevron for the National Business in the Arts Award last year as well. "While we didn't win the award last year, we appreciate just being honored with the nomination. For them to nominate us again this year is very gratifying," said Dickey.

"To have a corporation the size of Chevron help and assist you with your work is a reaffirmation and a pat on the back that says, |you're doing a good job, we believe in you and your future,'" said Edward Gryska, producing and artistic director for SLAC.

Members of the Community

Chevron has a long history of supporting communities in which it has operations. In addition to jobs provided, taxes paid, and products sold, Chevron assists many worthy community projects.

In Utah, Chevron supports over 70 non-profit organizations, contributing over $250,000 to them each year. In addition to arts and cultural programs, Chevron provides aid to education; health and human services; and environmental, youth, and civic programs.

"There are many needs in our community in many different areas. Quite frankly, we've seen increasing demand for programs to meet basic human needs and to provide aid to education which is very important to our state," said Dickey. In an effort to try to meet those needs, it's often easy to overlook the need to support the arts, he explained. "But the arts help define who we are as a community and encourage others to visit or locate in Utah. Utah has a long and distinguished history of supporting the arts. But it's an ongoing struggle for arts and cultural programs to survive, and they need help from individuals and companies in addition to support provided by the state and through grants," he continued. "It not only sets an example for our employees and customers, but it's good business. The arts are an attraction when new businesses consider locating in Utah. The arts help spur economic development to meet our future needs for a secure employment and tax base."

"We are very lucky to have both the quality and quantity of arts organizations in Utah," he noted. "Many cities larger than Salt Lake can't compare."