BASF Pasadena sites donate $10,000 to local nature center

PASADENA, TX, August 15, 2012 -- Three BASF sites recently collaborated to donate $10,000 to the Armand Bayou Nature Center in Pasadena. The Center has named the sites “Habitat Champions,” one of its highest honors, to recognize that BASF is an active supporter of the preservation of the Bay Area’s nature and quality of life.

The nature center, located on a 2,500-acre preserve, is one of only four Texas State Coastal Preserves and has dedicated its efforts to protecting the original wildlife and nature of the region. The BASF donation will go toward the construction of a new building at the nature center to educate and provide important environmental information to the public.

“We really value our sponsors highly,” said Janice Schrager, Armand Bayou’s Donor Development Coordinator.  “One of the nature center’s jobs is to maintain the land, and another is to build and maintain important relationships with companies. We rely on these companies’ sponsorships so that we can continue to inform and educate the community about the wonders of nature and the importance of preservation.”

John Robinson, Manager of the BASF Catalyst site on Chemical Road, said employees of the site were considering how to support the Armand Bayou Nature Center when the joint donation opportunity emerged.

“When the idea to collaborate between all three Pasadena sites arose, we knew that it was a perfect fit,” said Robinson.

The other two BASF sites in Pasadena that participated in the joint contribution are the BASF Petrochemicals Site on La Porte Highway and the BASF Health and Nutrition Site on Bay Area Boulevard. The donation represents the first time that the three local entities have worked together in such a manner to support the local community.

“We are excited to be able to give back to the community, and we hope that our support helps the nature center continue teaching, informing and providing an opportunity for visitors who want to reconnect with nature,” Robinson said.  “I know we’ll be looking for more opportunities in the future to collaborate in a similar fashion so that we can continue to support our neighbors.”

For a press photo, please click on the following link:
http://www.basf.us/pressphotos/08-15-12_HabitatChampions.jpg.      

Suggested Caption: Presenting the BASF Pasadena sites with the Habitat Champions award are Armand Bayou Nature Center’s Executive Director Tom Kartrude (far left) and Donations Development Director Janice Shrager (far right). Representing BASF are, from left, Petrochemicals Site Manager Robert Osterhold, Catalyst Site Manager John Robinson and Pasadena Health and Nutrition Operations Manager George Kraus.

BASF – The Chemical Company

BASF Corporation, headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, is the North American affiliate of BASF SE, Ludwigshafen, Germany. BASF has more than 16,000 employees in North America, and had sales of $20 billion in 2011. 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 crop protection products to oil and gas. We combine economic success, social responsibility and environmental protection. Through science and innovation we enable our customers in almost all industries to meet the current and future needs of society. Our products and system solutions contribute to conserving resources, ensuring healthy food and nutrition and helping to improve the quality of life. We have summed up this contribution in our corporate purpose: We create chemistry for a sustainable future. BASF posted sales of about €73.5 billion in 2011 and had more than 111,000 employees as of the end of the year. Further information on BASF is available on the Internet at www.basf.com.

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