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			Employees Community Contributions

At Dow, we believe we can make a positive difference in the communities in which we operate. We do this through the jobs we create, the taxes we pay, and the purchase of goods and services in order to manufacture our products. But more importantly, we invest time and dollars in our community with the help of our employees. This philosophy is at the heart of Dow’s operations and the cornerstone of our community involvement program.

During 2004, the site acted upon many opportunities to give back and enjoy supportive relationships within our local community. Represented are some noteworthy endeavors:

Habitat for Humanity
Dow had the privilege of financing and building the 50th home constructed through the Mt. Diablo Chapter of Habitat for Humanity. In addition to Dow’s $50,000 donation, in just one month, employees, friends, relatives, community residents, and AmeriCorps students constructed a home for a deserving Pittsburg family. More than 126 Dow employees covered 46 shifts to complete the build. In addition to construction, employees participated in a house blessing with the family’s minister, and the final dedication ceremony in which the family was presented a memory book filled with construction photos and a Home Depot gift certificate.

Community Environmental Fair
Dow hosted its 7th annual event at the Dow wetlands preserve with the help of 32 exhibitors who shared their displays, and interacted with more than 1,000 visitors. Pontoon boat rides, horse-drawn wagons, and live wild animal shows provided family entertainment. The local sanitary district partnered with Dow, providing event funding to offset expenses. Prior to the Saturday event, the Wetlands Environmental Team hosted more than 450 elementary students for a two-day series of environmental science workshops, including pond walks, plant, soil and watershed classes. Students were prepared for the experience through classroom pre-visits from Dow wetland team members. During the year, Dow was honored with the Governor Pat Brown Award through the California Council for Environmental and Economic Balance for our wetland educational programs, citing excellence in environmental protection and economic growth enhancement.

Dow Hosts Teacher Watershed Education Training at the Dow Wetlands
An outdoor seminar was conducted for local educators at Dow’s wetland preserve over three weekends May through June. Funded by Contra Costa Resource Conservation District, the program was implemented through Steve Andrews, University of California at Berkeley Environmental Science Teaching Program. A dozen teachers from two local school districts studied watersheds, gained understanding about sources of pollution, conducted water quality testing and invertebrate sampling, as well as identifying plants and animals. Teachers earned 2.5 upper division units for the curriculum and received books, guides and maps for their effort.

Dow Celebrates Martin Luther King’s Birthday
Site employees and invited community guests rallied to pay tribute to Dr. King and those who have carried forward his vision of a non-violent world. The 4th annual breakfast celebration presented a satellite broadcast from Dow’s corporate headquarters and live music featuring a 12-year old American Juniors semifinalist. Awards were presented to Pattie Behmlander, Dow employee, and Robert Kilbourne, Executive Director of 4AC. Four additional employees attended the corporate ceremony and were similarly honored with the corporate award.

Dow Named Business of the Year
The Pittsburg Chamber of Commerce honored Dow for its 65-year history and longstanding support to the community, including financial impact, education support, employment, safety and environmental impact, volunteerism, and philanthropic endeavors. The ceremony focused on Dow’s support to Habitat for Humanity and the redevelopment of blighted areas now replaced with new homes, and Dow’s many recognition awards of the Dow wetlands.

Dow Pursues Educational Partnership with Los Medanos College
The Dow Wetlands Environmental Team (WET) is working with the junior college, University of California-Berkeley, Delta Diablo Sanitation District and Delta Science Center to provide multiple opportunities for local students to learn about Environmental Science careers. The program will attract potential employees to area science-related career fields, with Dow as one of the interested employers. The Dow wetlands preserve will be the resource offered by Dow, the sanitation district has offered laboratory space adjacent to the wetlands property, and UC Berkeley will provide the teaching through their Environmental Science Teaching Program.

United Way and Week of Caring
Each year, site employees kick off the United Way fundraiser with a theme designed to inspire enjoyment and generate funds for the Bay Area agency. The 2004 event carried a spirited sports theme, “Let The Games Begin.” Employees tossed basketballs, footballs and participated in golf and soccer activities. The Dow band provided entertainment, and everyone enjoyed outdoor grilled burgers as they listened to speakers. Employees raised $30,975 and the site donations budget contributed an additional $4,000.

In conjunction with United Way, Dow employees took on a “Week of Caring” project by building a “Nehemiah Wall” for the Love-A-Child Mission. The group dedicated themselves to create a way for the residents, who are temporarily homeless, to feel safe and protected. All of the residents are women, most with children who have fled abusive situations.