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Mar 08 2011

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Dow Sponsors 2011 Kuwait-America Foundation Gala "Enduring Support" Dinner for Seventh Consecutive Year

"Our support for the initiatives and bridge-building endeavors set forth by the Kuwait- America Foundation (KAF) is very important to Dow," said Markus Wildi, Vice President of Corporate Development for Dow in Kuwait. "Being a part of this evening and helping to fund these worthy organizations supported by KAF resonates completely with Dow's advocacy of empowerment via education, economic development and mutually-beneficial bilateral relationships between countries."

Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski, co-hosts from MSNBC marquee news program, moderated the evening, which honored several personalities instrumental in supporting strong Kuwait-America partnerships, particularly in jointly solving key regional challenges. Former US President Bill Clinton was the keynote speaker for the event, highlighting the need for continued engagement and partnership between the Middle East and the US.

The $2.9 Million dollars raised will go directly to the United Service Organization (USO) - an organization dedicated to lifting the spirits of troops and their families. The USO Wounded Warriors' goal is an initiative to raise $100 million to create a community of care from the point of injury on the battlefield to a warrior's return home. Under this program, in 2011, the USO will begin to build new USO centers at the Bethesda Naval, Maryland, and at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, to help heal the wounds of war and provide enduring support to those who have sacrificed for their country.

Special guests at the gala included Oscar-winning philanthropic actor Ben Affleck, who was honored with a humanitarian award for his dedication to the Wounded Warriors Program. Additional attendees at the event included the Ambassadors of the United Arab Emirates, and a number of US Government dignitaries, including the US Commerce Secretary Locke, Massachusetts Senator John Kerry and Arizona Senator John McCain.

Over the past seven years, the annual dinner supports causes ranging from assisting refugees to improving education, providing quality healthcare in emerging economies, fighting poverty, and protecting the environment. In 2010, the Kuwait-America Foundation raised over $2 million to benefit the Central Asia Institute and its mission to build schools and promote girls' education in remote regions of Pakistan and Afghanistan. Combined in 2008/2009, the organization raised over $3.4 million to benefit Conservation International in support of their efforts to harness nature as a solution to climate change, and to support charitable programs to reduce malaria in Africa.

As part of its commitment to supporting social and economic development in Kuwait and the Middle East North Africa region, Dow is proud to partner with a subsidiary of El Boutique Creative Group to support the en.v Initiative', a leading program dedicated to social responsibility in the Arab World. Dow in Kuwait and en.v. recently announced the signing of a partnership agreement to support environmental programs in Kuwait. Dow also supports the Lothan Youth Achievement Centre (LoYAC), a non-profit organization based in Kuwait. LoYAC caters to children and young community members between the ages of 13 and 27, promoting critical thinking, innovation, entrepreneurship, community service work, health awareness, environmental awareness, leadership and drama, music and performing arts. Also through its philanthropic arm, The Dow Chemical Company Foundation, Dow forged an alliance with Young Arab Leaders (YAL) in 2007, a partnership that nurtures YAL's interest in promoting leadership, commerce and an entrepreneurial spirit in the Arab world.

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About Dow in Kuwait
For 15 years, Dow and Petrochemical Industries Company K.S.C. (PIC) of Kuwait have shared one successful milestone after another, partnering on six industry-leading joint ventures: EQUATE Petrochemical Company , MEGlobal, Equipolymers, EQUATE Marketing Company, The Kuwait Olefins Company (TKOC) , and The Kuwait Styrene Company (TKSC). As the largest foreign investor, and the largest private employer of Kuwaiti nationals, through its JVs, in the petrochemicals industry in Kuwait, Dow has consistently promoted economic development and prosperity. Dow and PIC's joint ventures combine Dow's strong existing asset base, technology position and market presence. Dow's partnership with Kuwait's noted NGO, LoYAC is in line with Dow's commitment to the communities in which it operates. LoYAC is noted in Kuwait for its inspired, innovative youth education and activities program, such as Dow's sole partnership of the F1 Schools Challenge, support of LoYAC's award winning Drama Club and other youth developmental programs in Kuwait and abroad.

About the Kuwait-America Foundation (KAF):
Established in 1991, KAF seeks to express gratitude for American sacrifice during the Gulf War and strengthen ties between the two countries. As one of the largest private investors in Kuwait, Dow has been contributing $250,000 annually to KAF for the past three years, a reflection of the Company's shared belief in reinforcing cross-national ties and community development.

About Dow in the Middle East
Dow has a longstanding relationship with the Middle East beginning with the establishment of manufacturing and commercial facilities in the United Arab Emirates more than 30 years ago. Since then, Dow has established a solid presence in the Middle East petrochemicals industry, partnering with leading regional companies to set up state-of-the-art petrochemical complexes across the region. For 15 years, Dow and Petrochemical Industries Company K.S.C. (PIC) of Kuwait have shared one successful milestone after another, partnering on six industry-leading joint ventures. Saudi Aramco and Dow are in the formation process of a joint venture to build, own and operate a world-scale integrated chemicals complex in the Eastern Province of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. From the entrepreneurship initiatives of Young Arab Leaders to the new Dow Middle East and Africa R&D Center at the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology in Saudi Arabia, Dow actively supports the social and economic aspirations of the communities where it operates. For more information about Dow in the Middle East , please visit: www.dowmiddleeast.com

For further information on Dow:
Dow:
Hani Wassim
Dow Middle East
Tel: +971 4 312 3668
hwassim@dow.com

Rosie Muhanna
Weber Shandwick Kuwait
Mob: +965 6621 6910
Rosie.muhanna@ws-mena.com

Reuven Proenca or Nisreen Sarryeh
Weber Shandwick MENA (Dubai)
Tel: +971 4 321 0077
Dow@ws-mena.com

© Press Release 2011