BASF builds 12 bikes for patients at Children’s Specialized Hospital

FLORHAM PARK/MOUNTAINSIDE, NJ, January 5, 2012 – BASF Corporation’s employee affinity groups recently held its second annual Build-A-Bike event to support children in the local community. More than 30 employees came together to build 12 bikes, which along with helmets, were donated to Children’s Specialized Hospital, the nation’s largest pediatric healthcare rehabilitation system serving over 18,000 children with special needs. The bikes will be used by patients in the hospital’s physical therapy units throughout New Jersey. Marty Epstein, owner of Marty’s Reliable Cycle in Morristown, New Jersey, and one of his employees were on hand to supervise the build and ensure that each bike was built properly.

“We are thrilled BASF has extended their support to include the donation and assembly of these bikes. Each of our sites will receive a bike and we can guarantee their generous donation and efforts will help many children,” said Philip Salerno III, President and Chief Development Officer, Children’s Specialized Hospital Foundation. “Nothing is more gratifying than watching a child progress in their rehabilitation and every patient who cruises down the hall on one of these bikes is in therapy and having fun at the same time. Huge thanks to BASF, for helping every child get a little closer to their full potential.”

“It was great to see so many BASF employees come together for a wonderful cause,” said Gabe Tarola, Head of the Emerging Professionals & Friends Steering Committee, BASF Corporation. “We were honored to be able to give these bikes to Children’s Specialized Hospital knowing our support will help with their patients’ rehabilitation.” 

BASF Corporation has five employee groups that align with the company’s mission to build an inclusive environment that encompasses diversity of gender, race, experience and points of view, which is key to the success of BASF and to the achievement of its status as an employer of choice and a partner of choice. These employee groups -- Latin American, African American, Emerging Professionals & Friends, ALLchemie (GLBT) and Women in Business offer employees a convenient way to network, build knowledge and skills, and learn about BASF’s market and customer needs.

For press photos, please click on the following links:

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Photo caption: BASF donated 12 bikes and helmets to Children’s Specialized Hospital in Mountainside, New Jersey. Pictured from left to right: Betsy Arnone, Member of the Emerging Professionals & Friends Steering Committee, BASF Corporation; Frankie, a patient at Children’s Specialized Hospital; Alex Rohmann, Member of the Women in Business and Emerging Professionals & Friends employee groups, BASF Corporation; Beth Anne Myarick, Community Relations Director, Children’s Specialized Hospital Foundation and Mark Corpus, Member of the Emerging Professionals & Friends Steering Committee, BASF Corporation. 

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Photo caption: More than 30 BASF employees who are part of the company’s employee affinity groups built 12 bikes that were donated to Children’s Specialized Hospital in Mountainside, New Jersey.

About Children’s Specialized Hospital

Children’s Specialized Hospital is the preeminent provider of rehabilitation services for children with special needs. The hospital serves children affected by brain injury, spinal cord injury, premature birth, autism, developmental delays, and life-changing illnesses. Children’s Specialized Hospital has eight sites in New Jersey and treats 18,000 children each year, making it the largest pediatric rehabilitation system of its kind in the nation. Services include outpatient services, acute rehabilitation, and long-term care through its sites in Bayonne, Clifton, Mountainside, Toms River, Fanwood, Hamilton, New Brunswick and Roselle Park as well as outreach programs in many communities.  Children’s Specialized Hospital Foundation supports the programs and services of the hospital. The Foundation is ranked among the top six pediatric hospital foundations in the country. To help, or find more information, visit www.childrens-specialized.org.

BASF – The Chemical Company

BASF Corporation, headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, is the North American affiliate of BASF SE, Ludwigshafen, Germany. BASF has approximately 16,400 employees in North America, and had sales of $17.7 billion in 2010. For more information about BASF’s North American operations, visit www.basf.us.

BASF is the world’s leading chemical company: The Chemical Company. Its portfolio ranges from chemicals, plastics, performance products, and agricultural products to oil and gas. As a reliable partner, BASF creates chemistry to help its customers in virtually all industries to be more successful. With its high-value products and intelligent solutions, BASF plays an important role in finding answers to global challenges, such as climate protection, energy efficiency, nutrition and mobility. BASF posted sales of more than €63.9 billion in 2010 and had approximately 109,000 employees as of the end of the year. Further information on BASF is available on the Internet at www.basf.com or in the Social Media Newsroom at newsroom.basf.com.

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