The Dow Chemical Company (NYSE:DOW) announced today it will donate up to $250,000 to Habitat for Humanity International to support European refugee relief efforts.

“Refugees continue to arrive in Europe, fleeing from war and destruction. For the people concerned – those who have left their homelands to escape war and violence – the situation is becoming more and more desperate, especially now that the winter season is upon us. There is a great need for support in this humanitarian crisis to provide the very basic of human needs: food, shelter and medical care, particularly in South East Europe,” stated Heinz Haller, Dow’s executive vice president and president of Dow Europe, Middle East, Africa and India. “With our support, Habitat for Humanity will be able to continue their work in several countries along the ‘migration route’ including Macedonia, Serbia and Hungary.”

Since becoming its first corporate partner in 1983, Dow has supported Habitat for Humanity's global mission to create affordable housing through donations of energy-efficient product solutions, financial contributions, and extensive employee engagement. In addition to creating access to decent, affordable housing, Habitat engages in disaster risk reduction and response intervention around the world. To date, Habitat has aided more than 200,000 families in 44 countries after devastating disasters and conflicts.

Dow’s support consists of the following:

  • A $200,000 donation to Habitat for Humanity International to support immediate shelter needs and relief efforts in 2016.
  • Implementation of a global employee matching grant program of up to $50,000 throughout the month of December.

“We are grateful to The Dow Chemical Company for their support of Habitat’s Syrian refugee relief efforts,” said Gregory Foster, area vice president, Habitat for Humanity Europe, Middle East and Africa. “Because of Dow’s generosity, displaced Syrian families will have access to safe shelter.”

As part of Dow’s global citizenship strategy and its commitment to innovating for global and local solutions, the Company aims to identify, understand and address society’s most pressing challenges and determine how it can help provide solutions to create sustainable communities throughout the world. Dow’s donation and employee matching grant program will enable its longstanding partner, Habitat for Humanity, to provide shelter solutions and relief efforts to refugees and the communities in which they will seek shelter along the migration route.

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 the intersection of chemical, physical and biological sciences to help address many of the world's most challenging problems such as the need for clean water, clean energy generation and conservation, and increasing agricultural productivity. Dow's integrated, market-driven, industry-leading portfolio of specialty chemical, advanced materials, agrosciences and plastics businesses delivers a broad range of technology-based products and solutions to customers in approximately 180 countries and in high-growth sectors such as packaging, electronics, water, coatings and agriculture. In 2014, Dow had annual sales of more than $58 billion and employed approximately 53,000 people worldwide. The Company's more than 6,000 product families are manufactured at 201 sites in 35 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.

About Habitat for Humanity International

Habitat for Humanity International’s vision is a world where everyone has a decent place to live. Since 1976, Habitat has helped more than 6.8 million people build strength, stability and independence through housing, including home construction, rehabilitation and repairs and by increasing access to improved shelter through products and programs. Habitat also advocates to improve access to decent and affordable shelter and offers a variety of housing support services that enable families with limited means to make needed improvements on their homes as their time and resources allow. As a nonprofit Christian housing organization, Habitat works in more than 70 countries and welcomes people of all races, religions and nationalities to partner in its mission. To learn more, donate or volunteer, visit habitat.org.

®TM Trademark of The Dow Chemical Company (“Dow”) or an affiliated company of Dow