| BASF donates $100,000 to United Way,
American Red Cross chapters
Funds to assist in continued hurricane relief efforts
BEAUMONT, Texas, February 10, 2006 -- BASF yesterday presented
contributions totaling $100,000 to the Beaumont Chapter of the
American Red Cross and the Beaumont and Port Arthur, Texas, chapters
of United Way. BASF donated $50,000 to the Red Cross, and $25,000
to both United Way agencies.
BASF’s contributions were made through the Southeast Texas
Emergency Relief Fund (SETERF), which in turn distributed the funds
to the three charities. Local citizens and businesses in the Beaumont
and Port Arthur areas created SETERF to aid in hurricane recovery.
The organization provides assistance to social service agencies,
helps fund loans to small businesses, and distributes grants to
assist with home repairs. BASF also contributed $130,000 to SETERF
in 2005.
The Red Cross and United Way chapters continued to operate following
Hurricane Rita even though their headquarters were damaged by the
storm. The Beaumont Chapter of the Red Cross, which was forced
to evacuate its own headquarters, distributed food, water, ice
and other supplies, and provided a range of social services to
displaced residents. Following Hurricane Katrina, the Red Cross
operated a shelter that served 1,500 people.
“BASF is a great community leader and has always given to
the community, both monetarily as well as through the volunteer
work of its employees,” said Jo Ann Block, Executive Director
of the American Red Cross Beaumont Chapter, in accepting the $50,000
contribution for the organization.
Terry Bourdier, Executive Director of the United Way of Beaumont,
said BASF’s $25,000 will be distributed among a number of
United Way agencies that were involved in hurricane relief efforts.
“The storms placed extraordinary demands on our member agencies
and BASF’s contributions will help tremendously,” Bourdier
said.
Mike McAtee, Manager of the BASF FINA Petrochemicals site in Port
Arthur, said BASF has been involved in hurricane relief efforts
in Texas, Louisiana and other states. “We are committed to
helping make our communities better, so working with the Red Cross
and United Way was a natural fit.”
John Smoter, Manager of BASF’s Beaumont site, said hurricane
relief work in Southeast Texas has been made more effective because
of cooperation between business, industry, government and not-for-profit
organizations.
“We are pleased to be part of the team that is rebuilding
Southeast Texas,” said Smoter. “The United Way and
the Red Cross will make great use of BASF’s contributions
to help the many residents in our community who have suffered losses.”
BASF operates the BASF FINA Petrochemicals site in Port Arthur,
which is the world’s largest naphtha steam cracker, turning
naphtha and light hydrocarbons into ethylene, propylene, and other
chemical raw materials. The cracker’s products are ultimately
used in the manufacture of hundreds of consumer products. The $1
billion facility began operations in 2001.
BASF’s Beaumont site manufactures dicamba and dimethenamid
(DMTA), active ingredients in key crop protection products including
Distinct®, Outlook® and Guardsman Max® herbicides.
BASF - The Chemical Company. We don't make a lot of the
products you buy. We make a lot of the products you buy better.®
BASF Corporation, headquartered in New Jersey, is the North American
affiliate of BASF AG, Ludwigshafen, Germany. Rated in FORTUNE magazine
as America’s Most Admired Chemical Company, we employ about
10,000 people in North America and had sales of approximately $11
billion in 2004. For more information about BASF’s North
American operations, or to sign up to receive news releases by
e-mail, visit www.basf.com/usa.
As the world’s leading chemical company, BASF's portfolio
ranges from chemicals, plastics, performance products, agricultural
products and fine chemicals to crude oil and natural gas. BASF’s
intelligent solutions and high-value products help its customers
to be more successful. BASF develops new technologies and uses
them to open up additional market opportunities. It combines economic
success with environmental protection and social responsibility,
thus contributing to a better future. In 2004, BASF had approximately
82,000 employees and posted sales of more than $50 billion. BASF
shares are traded on the stock exchanges in Frankfurt (BAS), London
(BFA), New York (BF), and Zurich (AN). Further information on BASF
is available on the Internet at www.basf.com. For more information, contact:
Mark Viator
BASF
Tel: (409) 960-5201
E-mail: viatorm@basf.com
Marshall Williams
BASF
Tel: (409) 960-5206
E-mail: williams5@basf.com
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