At Dow, we are committed to the principles of sustainable development and strive to make our communities and society a better place to live both now and in the future — for our children and our grandchildren. These contributions are most visible in the consumer products that you use and see daily such as, building & construction materials, water purification, health and medicine, personal and household care products just to name a few.

Our commitment and contributions reach beyond our science and technology to embrace the need to be a responsible corporate citizen. One of these initiatives is our commitment to Habitat for Humanity of product, cash and work crew volunteers.

Our commitment
Dow and Habitat for Humanity International have been building great things together since the early 1980s. Dow lends support to Habitat in many ways, including funding, donations of STYROFOAM* extruded polystyrene insulation, public visibility for Habitat programs and employee volunteer work crews at builds around the world.

One home at a time
Habitat builds homes with people in need, rather than for people in need — an important distinction. Homeowners make a down payment of up to 500 hours of sweat equity, working on their own homes and those of others as well. Since 1976, Habitat for Humanity has built or renovated more than 100,000 simple, decent and affordable homes for thousands of families in more than 80 countries around the globe. Dow plans to help the organization meet its goal of building another 100,000 homes between 2001 and 2005.

Dow support helps Habitat homeowners
STYROFOAM extruded polystyrene insulation helps keep homes warm in winter, cool in summer. Homes are more comfortable, and utility costs are lower — important benefits for Habitat homeowners. The exclusive supplier of rigid foam insulation for Habitat builds, Dow has pledged to donate $5 million of insulation for the next 25,000 North American Habitat homes through 2005. Dow also donates STYROFOAM extruded polystyrene insulation for builds around the world on a project-by-project basis and has committed $2 million for house sponsorships globally through 2005.

Dow & Habitat
Dow's most recent tie-in with Habitat for Humanity is the company's support for the new Global Village & Discovery Center located on a six-acre site at Habitat headquarters in Americus, Ga. The Global Village & Discovery Center is an interactive, educational experience that illustrates the housing transformation that partner families undergo to thrive in Habitat homes worldwide. Dow has pledged $100,000, which will be used for two house sponsorships and to develop an educational module about the science behind building. Global Village offers visitors a look at the Habitat “real world” experience and inspires them to participate in a “real solution.” Videos and interactive demonstrations help bring to life the daily struggles of people in 15 countries where Habitat homes are built.

Dow also announced in June 2003 that it will serve as a National Underwriter in sponsoring Habitat for Humanity International's Congress Building America initiative. The goal of this program is to continue to strengthen neighborhoods and communities by bringing Members of Congress together with local Habitat for Humanity affiliates, volunteers, corporate sponsors and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to build simple, decent affordable homes with families in need.

In September 2001, Dow was named a Lifetime Cornerstone Society Member of Habitat for Humanity and is also a leader in the More Than Houses: Rebuilding Our Communities campaign. More Than Houses is Habitat's new initiative to build 100,000 new homes worldwide by 2005. The campaign seeks to raise $500 million in new funds to provide affordable, decent housing for more than 500,000 people worldwide.

Habitat for Humanity International has been building affordable, decent homes with people in need for more than 25 years. With affiliates in more than 2,000 communities in 80 nations, Habitat has built and sold more than 100,000 homes to partner families with no-profit, zero-interest mortgages. Families who purchase Habitat homes contribute a down payment of hundreds of hours of sweat equity, working on their own homes and those of other prospective Habitat homeowners.