2,000 Dow volunteers and new technology set the stage for 2017 partnership with Habitat for Humanity

ATLANTA and MIDLAND, Mich., March 28, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- This year, The Dow Chemical Company (NYSE: DOW) and Habitat for Humanity enter their 35th year of partnership and will add new technologies to help make communities healthier and homes more sustainable for families in need of decent and affordable housing.

In 2017, Dow will support 42 Habitat projects in 19 countries through employee volunteerism, product donations and financial support. Dow has committed more than $1.4 million to support these projects and more than 2,000 employees are anticipated to volunteer building homes alongside future homeowners. 

"We are so grateful for partners like Dow. Their multi-dimensional relationship with Habitat – from products to people to expertise – benefits families and communities in countless ways," said Jonathan Reckford, CEO, Habitat for Humanity International. "Amazing things happen worldwide when partners want to make a positive difference in the lives of their employees, in the communities where they operate and serve, and around the globe."

For the first time, Dow will support Habitat builds in the Republic of the Union of Myanmar by donating water filtration systems in the towns of Thanatpin and Dala, where 28 percent of homes get their drinking water from unsafe sources. In another build in Tenjo, Colombia, Dow will pilot a project where its polyurethane materials will be used in PVC panels to build walls. In addition to building a home, volunteers in South Africa will use soap containing Dow technology in an educational campaign to reinforce the importance of hand-washing to help curb the spread of infectious diseases. 

With the addition of Myanmar, Dow will raise the number of countries where the company partners with Habitat to 33.

"Our Habitat collaboration gives us an opportunity to demonstrate the ways Dow can use the passion and talents of our people to help transform society at the intersection of sustainability, innovation and citizenship," said Rob Vallentine, director of Dow Global Citizenship and president of The Dow Chemical Company Foundation. "We are thrilled that our partnership continues to bring value to individuals and families in our communities and around the world, and look forward to another year of collaboration with Habitat, our employees, customers and businesses to enable affordable, sustainable housing."

As Habitat's national insulation partner, $4 million of Dow Building Solutions gift-in-kind product donations including STYROFOAM™ Brand XPS Insulation, GREAT STUFF and GREAT STUFF™ PRO™ Insulating Foam Sealants and WEATHERMATE™ Housewrap will be used on home builds throughout the U.S. and Canada to help build strength, stability and self-reliance through shelter. These products were provided to 3,179 homes last year, offering energy efficiency and comfort to Habitat homeowners.

In addition, Dow employee volunteers and product contributions will be part of the 34th Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Work Project, July 9-14, 2017, at locations across Canada, helping 150 families access affordable homeownership.

About Habitat for Humanity 

Driven by the vision that everyone needs a decent place to live, Habitat for Humanity began in 1976 as a grassroots effort on a community farm in southern Georgia. The Christian housing organization has since grown to become a leading global nonprofit working in nearly 1,400 communities throughout the U.S. and in more than 70 countries. Families and individuals in need of a hand up partner with Habitat for Humanity to build or improve a place they can call home. Habitat homeowners help build their own homes alongside volunteers and pay an affordable mortgage. Through financial support, volunteering or adding a voice to support affordable housing, everyone can help families achieve the strength, stability and self-reliance they need to build better lives for themselves. Through shelter, we empower. To learn more, visit habitat.org.

About Dow

Dow (NYSE: DOW) combines the power of science and technology to passionately innovate what is essential to human progress. The Company is driving innovations that extract value from material, polymer, chemical and biological science to help address many of the world's most challenging problems, such as the need for fresh food, safer and more sustainable transportation, clean water, energy efficiency, more durable infrastructure, and increasing agricultural productivity. Dow's integrated, market-driven portfolio delivers a broad range of technology-based products and solutions to customers in 175 countries and in high-growth sectors such as packaging, infrastructure, transportation, consumer care, electronics, and agriculture. In 2016, Dow had annual sales of $48 billion and employed approximately 56,000 people worldwide. The Company's more than 7,000 product families are manufactured at 189 sites in 34 countries across the globe. References to "Dow" or the "Company" mean The Dow Chemical Company and its consolidated subsidiaries unless otherwise expressly noted. More information about Dow can be found at www.dow.com.

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SOURCE Habitat for Humanity International