- Delaware Valley
- Our Commitments
Dow believes that by investing in the local community, it strengthens ties with that community and makes the community a better place to live. Dow's corporate commitment to social responsibility extends around the globe but starts in the communities where its employees live and operate like the Delaware Valley.
Dow works with many partners on projects that improve quality of life in communities throughout our region. Many organizations, like the ones listed here, are supported through The Dow Chemical Company Foundation.
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American Red Cross
Funding to the American Red Cross supports Emergency Services, provides help and hope to families in need, and helps to prepare the region for disasters of all sizes. Contributions also help to provide CPR and first aid at a local Red Cross club. Our employees also participate in providing supplies to the local blood collection used by national hospitals and medical centers.
Balanced Equation
Dow and The Keystone Center have developed “The Balanced Equation,” an innovative high school-level curriculum that is designed to encourage students to use chemistry to solve global sustainability problems and to focus on the big picture.
Camp Invention™
Camp Invention is a one-week day camp conducted during the summer months. Schools and community centers host the program across the United States. At Camp and Club Invention programs, children think the unthinkable, create new possibilities and discover innovative solutions through hands-on learning to promote rich content and application skills needed to apply science and math principles.
Christiana River Watershed Clean-up
Employees from Dow's Newark site actively work to protect natural resources in their communities. As part of an annual Christiana River Watershed Clean-up, about 1,000 volunteers walk the banks and negotiate the waters along the river's 31-mile path collecting trash. Since the cleanup began in 1992, more than 300 tons of tires, appliances, household items, plastic and polystyrene foam have been cleared from the Christiana River, White Clay Creek, Red Clay Creek and other tributaries. 2010's effort earned a Governor's Outstanding Volunteer Award for exemplary service from Delaware Gov. Jack Markell.
Delaware Valley Science Fairs
DVSF brings parents, teachers and industry together to stimulate and nurture young people so they grow and develop into contributing members of the community. The fairs provide a forum for students to present their scientific work and interact with scientists in their field to receive feedback on their efforts. Students are awarded, scholarships, cash prizes and other non-monetary recognition for outstanding work. They also provide mentoring and teacher training to facilitate participation in this activity.
Fairmount Park Conservancy
The Fairmount Park Conservancy is dedicated to enhancing the community, economy and environment of Philadelphia by raising funds and awareness for the Fairmount Park System. With the help of the conservancy, the Fairmount Park System will safeguard air and water quality, and remain a major tourist attraction that lures people and jobs to our area.
FIRST Robotics
The "For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology" Robotics Competition inspires young people to be science and technology leaders, by engaging them in exciting mentor-based programs that build science, engineering and technology skills, inspire innovation, and foster well-rounded life capabilities including self-confidence, communication and leadership. Dow sponsors the regional competition and employees get actively involved with the students and the event. In 2010, the Dow-sponsored team from Wissahickon High School in Ambler, PA, won the national championship.
Franklin Institute International Year of Chemistry
2011 has been designated by the United Nations as International Year of Chemistry plans to help advance public understanding and appreciation of chemistry. Dow is a global sponsor and is conducting engagements to raise awareness around the world. Locally, Dow's Advanced Materials Division, based in Philadelphia, is the official partner of the International Year of Chemistry at the Franklin Institute with various events during 2011.
Franklin Institute
The Franklin Institute's Partnerships for Achieving Careers in Technology and Science inspires and supports at-risk urban youth to engage in science and technology education. Professional mentors work with students and are involved in hands-on activities to strengthen understanding of this career opportunity.
GPUAC Philadelphia Reads (SWARM)
The Science Writing Arts Reading and Music program serves children in 1st through 3rd grade and provides enrichment for crucial academic areas. It promotes best practices pertaining to literacy efforts in Philadelphia's communities with a high degree of need. Dow funding also helps to obtain science kits used during instructional sessions.
Habitat for Humanity
Since 1983 Dow has sponsored more than 20,000 Habitat for Humanity builds around the world. In 2010 in the Delaware Valley, Dow sponsored two home builds – one in Bristol and the other in Newark — that met green-building standards and are saving homeowners up to 40 percent on their utility bills. Habitat for Humanity is an international organization that builds simple, decent, affordable houses in partnership with those in need of adequate shelter.
Philadelphia Education Fund
The Philadelphia Education Fund, an independent non-profit organization, has been working to improve the educational achievement of underserved youth in the Philadelphia region for the past two decades. Our support has resulted in new approaches to preparing youth to excel in math and science and recruiting teachers to these vital areas.
Philadelphia Science Festival
Dow's Advanced Materials Division, based in Philadelphia, is the presenting sponsor of the Philadelphia Science Festival in 2011. The Philadelphia Science Festival is a two-week, community-wide celebration of science that occurs annually in April, featuring lectures, debates, hands-on activities, special exhibitions and a variety of other informal science education experiences for Philadelphians of all ages.
Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education
The mission of The Schuylkill Center is to promote the preservation and improvement of our natural environment by fostering appreciation, understanding and responsible use of the ecosystem; disseminating information on current environmental issues; and encouraging appropriate public response to environmental problems.
United Way
Dow has a long tradition of supporting United Way in its communities. In most of those communities, the company's United Way gift is directed to health and human services programming and causes. United Way employee campaigns raise direct donations for the local United Way chapter.