IIRC,Exxon was the largest corporation in the world when oil was $100/barrel.Today they probably aren't but are surely among the biggest.They gave this $500K,presumably,for PR purposes.No,they weren't required to give anything but if they choose to give a gift of $500K looks *bad*.I stand by my earlier suggestion....$500K makes them look worse than not giving anything at all.
“.I stand by my earlier suggestion....$500K makes them look worse than not giving anything at all.”
If they had given more than $500k, there would be outcry about Exxon cutting jobs in its entire supply channels while had enough to give away. THAT would be a PR nightmare.