Dow Community Grants Program

Dow Community Grants Program to Kickoff Again in May

On your marks. Get set. Enhance the quality of life in southern Brazoria County.

After giving more than $180,000 to 17 recipients through the Dow Community Grants Program in 2005, Dow Texas Operations is once again offering its support to local non-profit organizations that have identified a social, economic or environmental need in the community.

"The Community Grants Program allows us to work with the community on a number of smaller and high value projects. We had a great response in the first year of the program and we're looking for even more applicants this year," said Bill Ghant, Community Relations Manager for Texas Operations.

The site has allocated $200,000 for the 2006 Community Grants Program. Local non-profit organizations are invited to compete for one of two grants. The "Diamond" Grant is worth up to $5,000 and the "Living. Improved daily." Grant has a maximum gift of $25,000. Projects that impact a large number of people and emphasize visible and sustainable improvements will be the most competitive in the selection process.

“As a 2005 Dow Grant recipient, the Lake Jackson Citizens' Police Academy Alumni Association's project to provide the community with a child identification program and technology will enable thousands of local youth to register vital identification information and link into state and federal systems,” said Ghant, “and reflects a great example of a sustainable project made possible by the program”.

To qualify, organizations must have a 501(c)(3) non-profit tax designation or be a municipal or government agency and be a resident of southern Brazoria County. Each submission must be accompanied by a funding statement for the project.

Community projects submitted must also have a Dow employee as the sponsor for the non-profit organization and must meet Dow's charitable giving criteria. Proposals meeting the 2006 Community Grants Program guidelines will be evaluated and scored by a Grants Review Committee.

Applications for the 2006 Dow Community Grants Program are available on-line in PDF form or to request a Word document, please e-mail ffrtxpa@dow.com. Please include your name, organization and your e-mail address. The deadline for submitting an application is June 16, 2006.

"We can't wait to see what kind of projects will be submitted in 2006," said Ghant. "We're committed to enhancing the quality of life in our neighboring communities and the Community Grants Program as a component of our charitable giving is a great way to ensure we make a positive impact."

Best in Class

“This fall, local schools will be competing not only on the gridiron with Dow Texas Operations conducting the second year of its Education Grants Program.

Applications will be made available to local school campuses beginning in August, 2006.

'We saw some outstanding programs and projects in the fields of science and math as a result of the 2005 Education Grants Program,” said Stacey Black, Education Focal Point at Texas Operations. “We realize that our success and the community's success is dependent upon a sound understanding and keen interest in math and science, which is why the program exists.”

Dow has allocated $50,000 for the program. Each school campus is invited to submit an application for one of two grants. The "Graduate" Grant is worth up to $5,000 and the "Scholar" Grant has a maximum gift of $10,000. Multiple projects will be selected for each type of grant.