Dow announces 2007 Diamond Grant recipients

Texas - May 10, 2007

At the Columbia Christian Senior Citizens Center, it has been getting more and more difficult to make meals for the center’s drop-in and Meals on Wheels programs. The center feeds about 100 people per day, most of them seniors and people with disabilities. Yet the center volunteers were struggling with aging equipment, including an oven with unpredictable temperatures and an ice machine on its last legs.

That’s why when Director Pat Eddy got a call from Dow Chemical, Texas Operations saying her organization was a recipient of a Diamond Grant for $5,000 to purchase new kitchen appliances, she was ecstatic.

“This will enable us to cook our meals much more efficiently,” she says. “We just appreciate what Dow is doing so much and we’re ready to put that money to work.”

The center is one of ten local organizations named the recipients of Diamond Grants from the 2007 Dow Texas Operations Community Grant Program.

The successful projects were chosen by a committee made up of Dow employees and external community members.

Recipients get up to $5,000 for short-term initiatives that will have long-term benefits for communities in southern Brazoria County.

“Our community grants program is designed to fund small projects that will have a big positive impact for local residents,” says Trish Ritthaler, community relations manager for Dow Texas Operations. “These organizations are doing great work in making our communities even better places to live and work and Dow seeks to contribute to long-term community success by supporting them.”

One such example is the Homeland Preparedness Project (HPP). It will receive $4896,55 for Amateur Radio (HAM) mobile communication kits for trained volunteer operators.

“During any major disaster, effective communications are critical to saving lives,” says Bill Ray, executive director of the HPP. “Unfortunately the existing communications structure is often overwhelmed or damaged and inoperable during major events. Dow’s grant will allow us to purchase HAM radios, which may be the only means of communicating during and immediately after hurricanes and other disasters.”

Other groups receiving Diamond Grants are as follows:

Brazoria County Master Gardeners - $5,000 for a rainwater harvesting system and educational materials that will demonstrate the need for, and benefits of, residential and public rainwater harvesting systems.
Brazos Place - $4996 for Pregnant Women in Crisis – Changing the Outcomes program. This program helps educate mothers-to-be about the effects of alcohol, tobacco and drugs, as well as sexually transmitted diseases, on their developing fetuses. It also offers training in proper parenting techniques to help stop the cycle of children of substance abusers becoming substance abusers themselves.
Friends of Brazoria Wildlife Refuge - $5,000 to build shelters at environmental education stations
Pregnancy Help Center of Brazosport - $3,500 for Breath of Life kits teaching basic CPR kits for parents
Southwest SIDS Research Institute - $5,000 for Safe Environment education/learning center to teach about safe sleep, general infant care, care of high-risk infants and monitor use.
SPCA of Brazoria County - $4,000 for the Spay/Neuter Intervention Program, providing low-cost spaying or neutering services for pets of those who cannot afford these procedures for their animals.
Surfside Beach Volunteer Department - $4,500 for UHF pagers for emergency communications
U.S. Department of Interior, Fish and Wildlife - $5,000 for educational hummingbird and butterfly gardens at San Bernard National Wildlife Refuge.

Dow Texas Operations’ Community Grants Program was started in 2005 and has contributed almost $600,000 to local projects in southern Brazoria County.

For Editorial Information:

Trish Ritthaler
The Dow Chemical Company
979-238-2753 (office) or 979-665-6040 (cell).


News Center News Releases Public Reports Security at Dow Sign-up for Texas Operations E-Updates About Texas Operations Dow in the Community Brazosport Industrial CAER 65th Anniversary Dow in Texas Sign-up for Texas Operations E-Updates Our Locations Texas Texas Operations		Dow announces 2007 Diamond Grant recipients Texas - May 10, 2007 At the Columbia Christian Senior Citizens Center, it has been getting more and more difficult to make meals for the center’s drop-in and Meals on Wheels programs. The center feeds about 100 people per day, most of them seniors and people with disabilities. Yet the center volunteers were struggling with aging equipment, including an oven with unpredictable temperatures and an ice machine on its last legs. That’s why when Director Pat Eddy got a call from Dow Chemical, Texas Operations saying her organization was a recipient of a Diamond Grant for $5,000 to purchase new kitchen appliances, she was ecstatic. “This will enable us to cook our meals much more efficiently,” she says. “We just appreciate what Dow is doing so much and we’re ready to put that money to work.” The center is one of ten local organizations named the recipients of Diamond Grants from the 2007 Dow Texas Operations Community Grant Program. The successful projects were chosen by a committee made up of Dow employees and external community members. Recipients get up to $5,000 for short-term initiatives that will have long-term benefits for communities in southern Brazoria County. “Our community grants program is designed to fund small projects that will have a big positive impact for local residents,” says Trish Ritthaler, community relations manager for Dow Texas Operations. “These organizations are doing great work in making our communities even better places to live and work and Dow seeks to contribute to long-term community success by supporting them.” One such example is the Homeland Preparedness Project (HPP). It will receive $4896,55 for Amateur Radio (HAM) mobile communication kits for trained volunteer operators. “During any major disaster, effective communications are critical to saving lives,” says Bill Ray, executive director of the HPP. “Unfortunately the existing communications structure is often overwhelmed or damaged and inoperable during major events. Dow’s grant will allow us to purchase HAM radios, which may be the only means of communicating during and immediately after hurricanes and other disasters.” Other groups receiving Diamond Grants are as follows: Brazoria County Master Gardeners - $5,000 for a rainwater harvesting system and educational materials that will demonstrate the need for, and benefits of, residential and public rainwater harvesting systems. Brazos Place - $4996 for Pregnant Women in Crisis – Changing the Outcomes program. This program helps educate mothers-to-be about the effects of alcohol, tobacco and drugs, as well as sexually transmitted diseases, on their developing fetuses. It also offers training in proper parenting techniques to help stop the cycle of children of substance abusers becoming substance abusers themselves. Friends of Brazoria Wildlife Refuge - $5,000 to build shelters at environmental education stations Pregnancy Help Center of Brazosport - $3,500 for Breath of Life kits teaching basic CPR kits for parents Southwest SIDS Research Institute - $5,000 for Safe Environment education/learning center to teach about safe sleep, general infant care, care of high-risk infants and monitor use. SPCA of Brazoria County - $4,000 for the Spay/Neuter Intervention Program, providing low-cost spaying or neutering services for pets of those who cannot afford these procedures for their animals. Surfside Beach Volunteer Department - $4,500 for UHF pagers for emergency communications U.S. Department of Interior, Fish and Wildlife - $5,000 for educational hummingbird and butterfly gardens at San Bernard National Wildlife Refuge. Dow Texas Operations’ Community Grants Program was started in 2005 and has contributed almost $600,000 to local projects in southern Brazoria County. For Editorial Information: Trish Ritthaler The Dow Chemical Company 979-238-2753 (office) or 979-665-6040 (cell).
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