Five public schools in Moore County have received $2,500 from the ExxonMobil Education Alliance program.

The five schools each received a $500 grant to support the following programs:

-- Aberdeen Elementary School -- general education, sponsored by Mac's Food Stores.

-- Southern Middle School -- general education, sponsored by Mac's Food Stores.

-- West End Elementary School -- general education, sponsored by Shop N Save No. 3.

-- West Pine Middle School -- general education, sponsored by Clark Chevrolet Cadillac.

-- Pinecrest High School -- music, sponsored by Mac's Food Stores

Frank McNeill Jr. and Davis Clark of McNeill Oil and Propane and Mac's Food Stores worked with school officials to secure the grants, which were selected from 4,000 available to schools across the country served by Exxon or Mobil stations.

The grants were made possible by funding from the Exxon Mobil Corporation.

"The schools of Moore County work extremely hard to make learning interesting and fun," McNeill said. "As an Exxon retailer, we are very proud to be able to help the young people of Moore County."

The ExxonMobil Educational Alliance program is designed to provide Exxon and Mobil retailers with an opportunity to invest in the future of their communities through educational grants to neighborhood schools. ExxonMobil believes that, as members of the community, local retailers are best qualified to work with local educators to help identify schools and programs most in need of support, the company said in a news release.

McNeill Oil and Propane met stringent eligibility criteria before applying for and being awarded these grants including having a commitment to providing a superior buying experience for customers.