COLUMBIA LIGHTHOUSE FOR THE BLIND ANNOUNCES EXXONMOBIL SUMMER INTERNSHIP PROGRAM

 -- ExxonMobil Community Summer Jobs Program Provides College Students

An Eight-Week, Paid Internship Experience at CLB –

WASHINGTON, DC (March 8, 2005) – Columbia Lighthouse for the Blind (CLB), a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing programs and services to individuals who are blind or visually impaired, is seeking candidates for an eight-week, paid summer internship made possible by the ExxonMobil Community Summer Jobs Program.  The selected applicant will provide media relations, writing, event planning and administrative support to CLB’s summer youth programs, which are designed to give children who are blind or visually impaired the opportunity to develop new skills and expand their horizons.

“We are delighted to have been selected for the third year to participate in the ExxonMobil Community Summer Jobs Program,” said Michelle Tatro, Manager of Community Relations at CLB.  “The internship at Columbia Lighthouse for the Blind is a great opportunity to learn more about the vital services the nonprofit sector provides to the community.”

The selected intern will assist the organization’s community relations manager with  media relations for CLB Summer Programs, including Camp Lighthouse Day Camp and Camp Lighthouse Technology Camp for high school students.  The intern also will take a lead in coordinating the Camp Lighthouse closing ceremony, sponsor events and the summer edition of the Lamplighter Lens newsletter focused on CLB Summer Programs.

Participating interns also will attend one development seminar on resume writing, interview tips, workplace ethics and etiquette, and complete a group community service project with other summer interns through ExxonMobil.

All candidates must be enrolled and returning to college as a full-time undergraduate student in fall 2005.  Applicants also must be available to work at least 35 hours per week for eight weeks, beginning no earlier than May 16, 2005, and ending no later than August 31, 2005.  A $2,000 stipend will be awarded to the selected candidate through a grant from the ExxonMobil Community Summer Jobs program.

Applications for the summer internship program with CLB must be submitted before Thursday, March 31.  To submit an application, please e-mail a cover letter and resume to mtatro@clb.org.  The selected applicant will be notified in writing no later than April 18, 2005.

In the summer of 2000, ExxonMobil introduced its Community Summer Jobs Program (CSJP) to Fairfax County. Founded in 1971, this program provides full-time college students with an eight-week paid summer internship to assist nonprofit organizations and gain experience in a wide range of nonprofit agencies. The CSJP also offers training to organizations in recruiting and selecting interns and provides assistance in organizing their summer internships. Summer 2005 marks the 7th year of the program in the Northern Virginia and Washington, DC region.