Dow announces 2016 commitment to Habitat for Humanity
Company expands reach into strategic growth areas
ATLANTA and MIDLAND, Mich. (March 31, 2016) – The Dow Chemical Company announced today it will partner with Habitat for Humanity International again for the 34th consecutive year through financial, product and employee volunteer contributions, to help build strength, stability and self-reliance through shelter. Dow’s support aligns with its 2025 Sustainability Goals and its global citizenship mission to help build sustainable communities by providing access to energy-efficient, affordable housing.
Dow employee volunteers will participate in first-time Habitat builds in Bangladesh, Romania and the Ivory Coast this year, bringing the total to 33 countries for Dow-supported builds. Dow plans to continue supporting communities where it has business operations or plans for strategic growth.
“There are numerous challenges around the world where Dow is uniquely positioned to help. Working with Habitat, we can offer solutions for energy efficiency, human health and substandard housing,” said Rob Vallentine, Dow’s director of global citizenship and president of The Dow Chemical Company Foundation. “We are proud that during our 34-year parternship with Habitat, Dow employees from around the world have used their talents and time to help build sustainable communities.”
As part of its 2016 commitment, Dow has pledged more than 1.4 million to help fund a projected 43 Habitat builds and other key projects around the world to serve an estimated 162 families. Three of the builds will celebrate the 75th anniversary of Styrofoam Brand XPS Insulation. In addition, Dow has committed gift-in-kind contributions of Styrofoam, Great Stuff and Great Stuff Pro Insulating Foam Sealants and Weathermate Housewrap.
“Dow’s partnership helps us serve more families in need of a decent and affordable place to call home by creating energy-efficient, sustainable housing that ultimately contributes to the overall well-being of individuals and communities,” said Jonathan Reckford, CEO of Habitat for Humanity International. “Because of Dow’s generosity, we are able to work toward our vision of a world where everyone has a decent place to live.”
In addition to home construction and neighborhood revitalization efforts, Dow partners with Habitat on projects that address pressing community needs. In 2015, Dow employees and contractors joined the Company in supporting Habitat’s European refugee relief efforts in Macedonia, Serbia and Hungary. This year, Dow is partnering with Habitat for Humanity of Michigan and Genesee County Habitat for Humanity to provide relief efforts for the water crisis in Flint, Michigan.
About Habitat for Humanity
Driven by the vision that everyone needs a decent place to live, Habitat for Humanity has grown from a grassroots effort that began on a community farm in southern Georgia in 1976 to a global nonprofit housing organization in nearly 1,400 communities across the U.S. and in over 70 countries. People partner with Habitat for Humanity to build or improve a place they can call home. Habitat homeowners help build their own homes alongside volunteers and pay an affordable mortgage. Through financial support, volunteering or adding a voice to support affordable housing, everyone can help families achieve the strength, stability and self-reliance they need to build better lives for themselves. Through shelter, we empower. To learn more, visit habitat.org.
About Dow
Dow (NYSE: DOW) combines the power of science and technology to passionately innovate what is essential to human progress. The Company is driving innovations that extract value from material, polymer, chemical and biological science to help address many of the world’s most challenging problems such as the need for clean water, clean energy generation and conservation, and increasing agricultural productivity. Dow’s integrated, market-driven, 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 180 countries and in high-growth sectors such as packaging, electronics, water, coatings and agriculture. In 2015, Dow had annual sales of nearly 49 billion and employed approximately 49,500 people worldwide. The Company’s more than 6,000 product families are manufactured at 179 sites in 35 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.