Fifty-seven Dow employees from St. Charles Operations in Hahnville and Louisiana Operations in Plaquemine participated as Team Dow in the Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Tour for Cure 150, contributing an estimated $17,000 in sponsorships for the cause. With the support of these sponsorships, Team Dow participants trained throughout the year and committed to this two-day, two-state cycling tour that was a 150-mile, round-trip trek from Southeast University in Hammond to Percy Quinn, Mississippi held in October.

As one of the largest charity causes in Louisiana, the MS Tour for Cure raised an estimated $575,000 in total sponsorships this year for Multiple Sclerosis - a life long, debilitating disease that affects the central nervous system.

On behalf of the National MS Society, the local Louisiana chapter recently recognized Team Dow with a plaque for its participation and sponsorships, and also noted that the team was one of the largest teams in this year's event.

Dow was also recognized last year for its philanthropic and community service by the National MS Society as a charter member of the Society's nationwide Corporate Star program. Dow employees were recognized with this honor because of high number of employee participation and sponsorships here in Louisiana, as well as in Michigan, Texas, West Virginia and New Hampshire.

Many of Dow employees have taken on cycling and training for this event as a healthy life decision. As an example, Willie Walker, St. Charles Operations employee, said, "Since I began training for my first MS-150 event two years ago, I've experienced significant weight loss and got off of four bottles of prescription medication per month. Supporting and raising money for MS research is a great cause, but the quality of life that I have found through cycling is also great."

Dow is a leader in science and technology, providing innovative chemical, plastic and agricultural products and services to many essential consumer markets. With annual sales of $33 billion, Dow serves customers in more than 180 countries and a wide range of markets that are vital to human progress, including food, transportation, health and medicine, personal and home care, and building and construction, among others. Committed to the principles of sustainable development, Dow and its approximately 46,000 employees seek to balance economic, environmental and social responsibilities. References to "Dow" or the "Company" mean The Dow Chemical Company and its consolidated subsidiaries unless otherwise expressly noted. St. Charles Operations is owned by Union Carbide Corporation, which is a subsidiary of The Dow Chemical Company.