ATLANTA and MIDLAND, Mich., March
28, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- This year, The Dow
Chemical Company (NYSE: DOW) and Habitat for Humanity enter their
35th year of partnership and will add new technologies to help make
communities healthier and homes more sustainable for families in
need of decent and affordable housing.
In 2017, Dow will support 42 Habitat projects in 19 countries
through employee volunteerism, product donations and financial
support. Dow has committed more than $1.4
million to support these projects and more than 2,000
employees are anticipated to volunteer building homes alongside
future homeowners.
"We are so grateful for partners like Dow. Their
multi-dimensional relationship with Habitat – from products to
people to expertise – benefits families and communities in
countless ways," said Jonathan
Reckford, CEO, Habitat for Humanity International. "Amazing
things happen worldwide when partners want to make a positive
difference in the lives of their employees, in the communities
where they operate and serve, and around the globe."
For the first time, Dow will support Habitat builds in the
Republic of the Union of Myanmar
by donating water filtration systems in the towns of Thanatpin and
Dala, where 28 percent of homes get their drinking water from
unsafe sources. In another build in Tenjo, Colombia, Dow will pilot a project where its
polyurethane materials will be used in PVC panels to build walls.
In addition to building a home, volunteers in South Africa will use soap containing Dow
technology in an educational campaign to reinforce the importance
of hand-washing to help curb the spread of infectious
diseases.
With the addition of Myanmar,
Dow will raise the number of countries where the company partners
with Habitat to 33.
"Our Habitat collaboration gives us an opportunity to
demonstrate the ways Dow can use the passion and talents of our
people to help transform society at the intersection of
sustainability, innovation and citizenship," said Rob Vallentine, director of Dow Global
Citizenship and president of The Dow Chemical Company Foundation.
"We are thrilled that our partnership continues to bring value to
individuals and families in our communities and around the world,
and look forward to another year of collaboration with Habitat, our
employees, customers and businesses to enable affordable,
sustainable housing."
As Habitat's national insulation partner, $4 million of Dow Building Solutions gift-in-kind
product donations including STYROFOAM™ Brand XPS Insulation, GREAT
STUFF and GREAT STUFF™ PRO™ Insulating Foam Sealants and
WEATHERMATE™ Housewrap will be used on home builds throughout the
U.S. and Canada to help build
strength, stability and self-reliance through shelter. These
products were provided to 3,179 homes last year, offering energy
efficiency and comfort to Habitat homeowners.
In addition, Dow employee volunteers and product contributions
will be part of the 34th Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Work Project,
July 9-14, 2017, at locations across
Canada, helping 150 families
access affordable homeownership.
About Habitat for Humanity
Driven by the vision that everyone needs a decent place to live,
Habitat for Humanity began in 1976 as a grassroots effort on a
community farm in southern Georgia. The Christian housing organization
has since grown to become a leading global nonprofit working in
nearly 1,400 communities throughout the U.S. and in more than 70
countries. Families and individuals in need of a hand up 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 fresh
food, safer and more sustainable transportation, clean water,
energy efficiency, more durable infrastructure, and increasing
agricultural productivity. Dow's integrated, market-driven
portfolio delivers a broad range of technology-based products and
solutions to customers in 175 countries and in high-growth sectors
such as packaging, infrastructure, transportation, consumer care,
electronics, and agriculture. In 2016, Dow had annual sales of
$48 billion and employed
approximately 56,000 people worldwide. The Company's more than
7,000 product families are manufactured at 189 sites in 34
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.
To view the original version on PR Newswire,
visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/2000-dow-volunteers-and-new-technology-set-the-stage-for-2017-partnership-with-habitat-for-humanity-300430418.html
SOURCE Habitat for Humanity International