10.30.2007 - 11:59pm ET

A student participating in the "Hands on Science" program in Colombia.

(CSRwire) MIDLAND, MICH - October 30, 2007 - The Dow Chemical Company Foundation announced a new partnership with The Resource Foundation to address the most pressing economic, social and environmental issues in Latin America today. The Dow Chemical Company Foundation has provided over $700,000 in grant support for the funding of 28 high-impact programs that will directly benefit more than 200,000 men, women and children in the region.

"Dow's commitment to community success is an essential piece of our 2015 Sustainability Goals," said Bo Miller, Global Director of Corporate Citizenship of The Dow Chemical Company and President of The Dow Chemical Company Foundation. "This partnership with The Resource Foundation helps enable us to make even greater strides toward long-term community success throughout Latin America." Commenting further, Vicente Teixeira, Director of Public Affairs and Human Resources for Dow Latin America, said, "Dow's 60-year history of philanthropy throughout Latin America is being enhanced through the capabilities of The Resource Foundation, and in turn, The Resource Foundation is being introduced to important new communities and philanthropic strategies through their new relationship with Dow."

"We are very pleased that Dow has chosen The Resource Foundation to be its philanthropic partner in Latin America," said Loren Finnell, Executive Director of The Resource Foundation. "We look forward to collaborating with Dow to address key issues related to education, science and the environment in the region. This is an important effort and we commend Dow for their leadership."

Poverty and inequality continue to be of major concern in Latin America, with 222 million people (42.9%) living in poverty, and 96 million (18.1%) living in extreme poverty.* The region also has one of the highest levels of inequality in the world due to institutionalized social, political and economic discrimination. The richest one-tenth of the population of Latin America and the Caribbean earn 48% of total income, while the poorest tenth earn only 1.6 %. Through active participation among Dow's local and regional offices, the local communities, and The Resource Foundation, effective programs will be selected that address the specific needs in the region and achieve a long-lasting impact.

High-quality education programs for Latin American youth is one focus that is essential to the region's development. Dow is supporting "hands-on" science education programs in Argentina, Colombia and Mexico to promote critical, scientific thinking skills and excite children and adolescents about science, so that in the future, they can take an active role in finding solutions to their communities' problems. The Mexican version of the project has been received with great enthusiasm. Dow started a successful partnership with the local non-governmental organization (NGO) INNOVEC, The Federal Ministry of Education and the local Ministry of Education in Tlaxcala to increase the scope of the project from two to 62 schools. A total of 17,262 students and 720 teachers will directly benefit from the program.

Dow is also supporting economic development projects that are designed to have a wide-reaching impact. In Guaruja City, Brazil, an innovative recycling and job creation program provides training to low-income individuals who are part of a Recycling Cooperative, thereby enabling them to generate income and protect the environment. In Argentina, youth have an opportunity to improve their technical skills and increase their access to the labor market; while in Colombia, a new Vocational and Technology Center will offer technical and job skills training courses to youth and community members.

In 2007, Dow contributed a total of US$1.3 million for programs related to sustainable water supplies, decent housing, green energy, climate change research, affordable and adequate food supply and improved personal health and safety in Latin America. Through their partnership with The Resource Foundation, Dow's commitment will further help to affect change and make progress a reality for thousands of men, women and children in Latin America.

About Dow

Dow is a diversified chemical company that harnesses the power of innovation, science and technology to constantly improve what is essential to human progress. The Company offers a broad range of products and services to customers in more than 175 countries, helping them to provide everything from fresh water, food and pharmaceuticals to paints, packaging and personal care products. Built on a commitment to its principles of sustainability, Dow has annual sales of $49 billion and employs 43,000 people worldwide. References to "Dow" or the "Company" mean The Dow Chemical Company and its consolidated subsidiaries unless otherwise expressly noted.

About The Resource Foundation

The Resource Foundation was established in 1987 to empower the working poor in Latin America and the Caribbean. With a network of 130 member and associated organizations, The Resource Foundation facilitates partnerships between knowledgeable funders and effective organizations implementing sustainable, locally-driven development initiatives. It works with donors to optimize the impact of their philanthropy, providing them with specialized, tailored services including project identification, due diligence, funds transfers, proposal and progress report preparation, and training and assistance related to giving strategies. To learn more about The Resource Foundation, please go to www.resourcefnd.org.

* Source: United Nations Population Fund

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