Dow recently awarded $45,000 to eleven non-profit organizations for community projects in St. Charles Parish with the site's 2004 Community Grant Program. The funds will support a broad array of projects in local communities.

The grants were selected on a competitive basis, with a committee of Dow employees and St. Charles Parish community residents reviewing the proposals and selecting the projects that best matched the criteria for the program. The non-profit organizations were required to submit proposals on projects that would produce results, have a direct impact in the community and benefit many people.

"The projects that Dow is funding are diverse and reach a broad cross-section of our parish," said Nawzer Parakh, St. Charles Operations Site Leader. "We are proud to partner with these organizations through Dow's Community Grant Program, as we work together in improving the quality of life for neighbors in our community."

Local grant recipients and project descriptions include: LeBranche Wetland Watchers at Harry Hurst Middle School for several student environmental projects; Bayou Land Resource Conservation for a production greenhouse program to train individuals on how to raise greenhouse vegetable; Luling Elementary School to provide community cleanup and science events through the Luling Land Lab; St. Charles Parish Parks and Recreation Department for creation of press box facility at the west bank Bridge Park; Luling Volunteer Fire Department for a program to educate adult and senior citizens about fire safety; and St. Charles Community Outreach Foundation to provide an after-school mentoring program and tutorial service for students K-12 in St. Charles Parish.

Other recipients include: New Sarpy Improvement Association of Louisiana for restoration of recreation areas for children; Family Center at Luling School for a preschool program focusing on gross and fine motor skills and language development; St. Charles Parish Sheriff's Office to provide for training in community service projects such as child fingerprinting; St. Charles Humane Society for the purchase of a cargo van to provide transportation for homeless animals to the animal shelter; and Paradis Volunteer Fire Department to provide training material that will be leveraged throughout all fire departments in St. Charles Parish.

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.