Dow Renews Commitment to Habitat for Humanity

ATLANTA, Sept. 2 /PRNewswire/ -- Habitat for Humanity International announced today that The Dow Chemical Company, a partner for nearly 30 years, has committed to a new two-year agreement, increasing its global support to create additional affordable housing.

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As part of its renewed commitment, Dow will provide funding and product donations in support of Habitat for Humanity's 2010 Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Work Project and for Habitat homes built throughout the United States. During this year's Carter Work Project, volunteers will build new houses and improve existing homes – 86 in all – in Washington, D.C.; Baltimore and Annapolis, Md.; Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minn.; and Birmingham, Ala. Dow also will provide funding for nearly 70 Habitat homes in nine countries around the world in 2010, continuing its efforts to help Habitat's international work.

"We are extremely grateful to Dow for the outstanding support they provide to Habitat for Humanity around the world, and we are delighted that they have renewed their partnership with us," said Jonathan Reckford, CEO of Habitat for Humanity International. "Dow was one of our first corporate sponsors, having approached us in 1983 about how they could contribute to affordable housing efforts in the United States.  Twenty-seven years later, Dow has supported the construction of more than 25,000 Habitat houses in nearly 20 countries. They are a tremendous partner who shares our goal to help more families worldwide have decent and affordable places in which to live." 

Dow's new commitment to Habitat brings the company's aggregate Habitat contributions to nearly $11 million in funding and more than $25 million in gift-in-kind support over the span of the partnership, with scores of Dow volunteers helping families around the world realize their dreams of home ownership.  Dow also is working with Habitat by serving as a subject-matter expert in energy efficiency and conservation in the construction of homes. Dow employees support Habitat as donors and commit their professional skills as Habitat affiliate board members and construction volunteers.

"Historically, Dow has engaged a holistic approach with Habitat, contributing not only funds that make building possible and products that deliver reductions in energy consumption and CO2 emissions, but significant volunteer support that is needed to bring these projects and the homeowners' dreams to life," said Bo Miller, Global Director for Corporate Citizenship at Dow.  "We look forward to providing further expertise in sustainable building practices and to helping expand Habitat's global reach to continue to address the challenge of sustainable, affordable housing."

About Habitat for Humanity International

Habitat for Humanity International is an ecumenical Christian ministry that welcomes to its work all people dedicated to the cause of eliminating poverty housing. Since its founding in 1976, Habitat has built more than 350,000 houses worldwide, providing simple, decent and affordable shelter for more than 1.75 million people. For more information, visit www.habitat.org.

About Dow

Dow combines the power of science and technology with the "Human Element" 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, agro sciences 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 2009, Dow had annual sales of $45 billion and employed approximately 52,000 people worldwide. The Company's more than 5,000 products are manufactured at 214 sites in 37 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.

SOURCE Habitat for Humanity International