MIDLAND, Mich.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Dow Chemical Company (NYSE: DOW) today announced a two-year commitment for financial and product contributions to help Habitat for Humanity to create safe, affordable housing in partnership with low-income families around the globe.
Adding to the more than 20 countries where Dow has participated in Habitat builds, this year the company will support projects in Africa, Europe, Latin America, Middle East, Asia Pacific and North America, as well as Habitat’s Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Work Project – Habitat’s most widely recognized annual event aimed at raising global awareness of the need for decent, affordable housing.
As part of its commitment, Dow has pledged nearly $1.5 million to help fund 26 Habitat builds and other key projects around the world in 2012. Additionally, Dow anticipates gift-in-kind contributions of STYROFOAMTM brand insulation products in excess of $4 million, which represents the first half of a two-year product commitment.
“Faithful support from terrific partners like Dow enables us not only to serve more families, but to increase our impact in communities around the world,” said Jonathan Reckford, CEO of Habitat for Humanity International. “Dow has been a trendsetter in helping us further our mission, and we are grateful for their financial and product support, for the employees who give of their time and talents on Habitat projects and for their voice that encourages others to work for adequate housing for all.”
The announcement takes place on International Corporate Philanthropy day, an international advocacy day intended to build awareness of corporate-community partnerships and to inspire businesses around the world to engage further. Led by the Committee Encouraging Corporate Philanthropy, International Corporate Philanthropy Day is recognized each year on the fourth Monday in February.
“Dow and Habitat are like minded in our passion for providing safe, affordable housing to families all over the world,” said Bo Miller, global director for Corporate Citizenship at Dow. “We could not think of a better way to put our skills, our products and our contributions to work. We see this holistic approach as the most effective way to engage as a corporate citizen in everything we do and we are proud to continue to join hands with Habitat in its mission.”
The renewed agreement between Dow and Habitat brings the company’s aggregate Habitat contribution to nearly $14 million in funding and almost $30 million in gift-in-kind support over the span of their collaboration, with thousands of Dow volunteers helping families around the world realize their dreams of homeownership. In addition to widespread volunteer support, Dow also works with Habitat by providing personnel who serve as subject matter experts in energy efficiency and conservation in the construction of homes and by serving as Habitat affiliate board members.
About Dow
Dow (NYSE: DOW) combines the power of science and technology to passionately innovate what is essential to human progress. The Company connects chemistry and innovation with the principles of sustainability to help address many of the world's most challenging problems such as the need for clean water, renewable energy generation and conservation, and increasing agricultural productivity. Dow's diversified industry-leading portfolio of specialty chemical, advanced materials, agrosciences and plastics businesses delivers a broad range of technology-based products and solutions to customers in approximately 160 countries and in high growth sectors such as electronics, water, energy, coatings and agriculture. In 2011, Dow had annual sales of $60 billion and employed approximately 52,000 people worldwide. The Company's more than 5,000 products are manufactured at 197 sites in 36 countries across the globe. References to "Dow" or the "Company" mean The Dow Chemical Company and its consolidated subsidiaries unless otherwise expressly noted. More information about Dow can be found at www.dow.com.
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