Members of Dow’s United Way Core Team recently visited the Norco Adult Day Care Center and Association of Retarded Citizens (ARC) of St. Charles - two local agencies that are funded by the United Way. The trip gave employees an opportunity to see how the money donated every year to the United Way is put to good use.

The Norco Adult Day Care is a place where seniors in need of attention can go during the day to find comfort and friendship. The clients take field trips and participate in daily activities such as bingo and art projects.

The ARC of St. Charles in Boutte is devoted to promoting and improving supports and services for people with mental retardation and their families in the local community. This United Way agency provides supported employment services, supervised independent living, respite personal care attendant, adult habilitation, work experience, self help skills, and social skills training. Some of the ARC’s clients are taught to handle full- or part-time jobs if they are willing.

“It’s a very uplifting place to visit,” says Dow employee Charmaine Rousseve. “I saw people doing real work—like shredding paper for recycling. This agency helps everyone make a contribution and feel good about themselves and their value to society.” Rousseve continues, “I woke up throughout the night after my visit, thinking of some of the people there. My heart is still full.”

Dow employee Katherine Rupp, adds, “These agency tours help remind us of what’s really important in life and that some people deal with challenges each day that you can hardly imagine. An agency tour is the best way to see our United Way dollars at work. You can really understand how you are making a difference in your community.”

Last year, Dow employees at St. Charles Operations donated more than $220,000 to United Way. The 2004-2005 employee-led United Way campaign at Dow kicks off on September 30.

Dow is a leader in science and technology, providing innovative chemical, plastic and agricultural products and services to many essential consumer markets. With annual sales of $33 billion, Dow serves customers in more than 180 countries and a wide range of markets that are vital to human progress, including food, transportation, health and medicine, personal and home care, and building and construction, among others. Committed to the principles of sustainable development, Dow and its approximately 46,000 employees seek to balance economic, environmental and social responsibilities. References to "Dow" or the "Company" mean The Dow Chemical Company and its consolidated subsidiaries unless otherwise expressly noted. St. Charles Operations is owned by Union Carbide Corporation, which is a subsidiary of The Dow Chemical Company.