Dow assisting in Haiti, Chile

Dow Chemical Co. is continuing to support relief efforts in Haiti, which is recovering from a major earthquake on Jan. 12. The Midland, Mich.-based company announced today that it supported a relief mission that took surgeons, medical supplies and clothing to those in need on March 6-7. Dow "collaborated with several Boston-area hospitals and like-minded companies to bring more than $750,000 in donated medical equipment to those in need -- specifically an anesthesia machine and other specialized surgical equipment -- via a relief flight that took place this weekend from the U.S. to Haiti." The company said the effort was "one of the single, largest private sector relief efforts" since the Jan. 12 earthquake. On its return flight to the U.S., the airplane transported more than 40 orphans who have been cleared for adoption by the U.S. State Department. Since the January quake, Dow has donated $500,000 to the Haiti Earthquake Relief Fund, as well as an additional $250,000 through an employee matching gift program to support The United Nations World Food Programme. In addition, nearly 2,000 Dow employees personally contributed more than $320,000 of their own funds to Haiti relief efforts. Dow also announced that it has agreed to donate $100,000 to Hogar De Cristo, a relief organization in Santiago, Chile, to support relief efforts to those affected by the 8.8-magnitude earthquake that southern Chile on Feb. 27. Another $100,000 is being set aside for future rebuilding as the needs are fully assessed. Dow also is sending provisions from Santiago to Talcahuano to assist 70 employees located near the city.