4.15.2008 - 11:59pm ET

(CSRwire) April 15, 2008 - The Dow Promise program was recently awarded the 2008 Golden Torch Award for Corporate Community Service from the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE). The award presentation was made at the NSBE Annual National Convention in Orlando, Florida.

"We're extremely honored that Dow Promise has been recognized by NSBE, a long-standing, valuable partner of our company," said Earl Shipp, Dow Group President, Basic Chemicals, and NSBE Executive Sponsor. "The Golden Torch Award is top-level recognition of our commitment to sustainable and balanced business success. I am grateful to the many passionate Dow Promise volunteers - the Human Element - who earned this Award by making a difference in communities across the country."

Now in its eleventh year, the Golden Torch Awards honor those whose work demonstrates the highest commitment to the ideals set forth in NSBE's mission: to increase the number of culturally responsible black engineers who excel academically, succeed professionally and positively impact the community. The Corporate Community Service Award recognizes one company that demonstrates a commitment to those ideals through outstanding contributions to community programs and pioneering initiatives in leadership in African-American communities.

Dow Promise, this year's Corporate Community Service Award recipient, is a volunteer initiative led by Dow employee Smallwood Holoman. Dow Promise mobilizes resources for the benefit of economically and educationally challenged African-American communities near Dow sites. Created in 2000 by Dow’s African American Network (AAN), the Dow Promise program supports the company’s commitment to corporate citizenship, its efforts to foster a diverse and inclusive workforce, and its goal of "Contributing to Community Success."

The contributions of Dow employees took Dow Promise from a grassroots effort to a successful, sustainable corporate initiative. Over 200 active and retired employee volunteers from Dow's California, Louisiana, Michigan, New Jersey, Texas and West Virginia locations have logged thousands of hours each year serving young people and adults identified as facing educational and/or economic challenges. They participate in one-on-one or group mentoring, science/engineering enrichment programs, tutoring, computer and technology training, and more. These activities are enhanced through grants from The Dow Chemical Company Foundation: Dow Promise invested more than $2.1 million in its work in local communities over the last five years.

Dow Promise's Golden Torch Award holds great significance to the Company since NSBE is such a valued partner to Dow. A number of Dow employees are on the NSBE Strategy Team, and Dow participates in the NSBE Career Fair - a consistent source in bringing top African-American talent to Dow. The Golden Torch Award is an opportunity to showcase Dow as an employer of choice within an organization that has provided many talented minority engineers to Dow.

For more information on Dow Promise, please visit http://www.dow.com/dowpromise/index.htm

About Dow

With annual sales of $54 billion and 46,000 employees worldwide, Dow is a diversified chemical company that combines the power of science and technology with the "Human Element" to constantly improve what is essential to human progress. The Company delivers a broad range of products and services to customers in around 160 countries, connecting chemistry and innovation with the principles of sustainability to help provide everything from fresh water, food and pharmaceuticals to paints, packaging and personal care products. References to "Dow" or the "Company" mean The Dow Chemical Company and its consolidated subsidiaries unless otherwise expressly noted.

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