Midland, MI, January 4--The Dow Chemical Co. said it will contribute $5 million to the relief efforts underway for victims of the recent earthquake and subsequent tsunamis in Southeast Asia and the Indian sub-continent.
Andrew Liveris, Dow president and chief executive officer, said: "As we've all seen, the reports and images from the tsunami-stricken regions in Southeast Asia and the Indian sub-continent are at once incomprehensible and heart-breaking. At times like these, we all struggle to come up with meaningful ways to contribute and help those who have lost so much."
Dow is responding to the disaster with a pledge of $5 million in aid, which includes:
· A $1 million monetary contribution to the Red Cross International Response Fund, which is dedicated to providing immediate, vital help to the victims in need.
· Up to $1 million in matching individual contributions from Dow's more than 40,000 employees and 70,000 retirees around the world.
· An additional $3 million in the form of vital products, technology and funds to assist in the longer-term reconstruction efforts. Dow will work with governments, agencies and other interested parties in the affected areas to determine how best to provide support.
"Through these efforts, we hope to be able to provide tangible and meaningful aid to the survivors, in both the immediate days ahead and into the future, as they begin to rebuild their homes, their communities and their lives," Liveris said.
Noting that Dow has a long-standing presence in Asia, he added, "While no Dow operations were directly impacted by the tsunamis, it is important to support the region at this difficult time.
"The people of Dow are known for their community outreach. Nowhere is that outreach needed more than in these villages, towns and rural communities affected by this natural disaster," said Liveris.
