- New commitment expands the partnership until the 2025/2026 FIRST season
- The Team Sustainability Award for the FIRST® Robotics Competition program will be sponsored by Dow starting this season
- FIRST and Dow will continue working together to expand the program in key international markets while promoting inclusion, diversity, equity and belonging
MIDLAND, Mich. – June 28, 2023 – Today, Dow (NYSE: DOW) and FIRST® announce their continued commitment to preparing young people for the future through STEM learning.
FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) is an inclusive robotics community that prepares young people in grades preK-12 for the future. The programming engages youth in exciting mentor-based programs that build science, engineering, and technology skills, inspire innovation and foster well-rounded life capabilities, including self-confidence, communication and leadership. Supported by a global network of volunteers, educators and sponsors, teams operate to conduct research, fundraise, design, build and showcase their achievements during annual challenges that have similarities to sporting events.
"We have partnered with and been inspired by the FIRST community for a decade. This year, we are excited to expand that work by honoring a team with the Sustainability Award sponsored by Dow,” said Paul Kline, Information and Technology director for Sustainability and FIRST sponsor at Dow. “Students are having fun while learning essential skills through FIRST, but more importantly, they're learning how to learn – a crucial mindset, considering many careers they will pursue don't exist yet.”
Dow funding and employee volunteers will support:
- Expansion and development of teams and programs in communities where Dow operates
- Incorporating inclusion, diversity, equity, belonging and community engagement into teams’ priorities
- Coaching and mentoring teams
- The Team Sustainability Award sponsored by Dow for FIRST Robotics Competition
“We’re thrilled to expand our longtime partnership with Dow, a company known for innovation and their commitment to making a difference in the communities where they operate,” said Chris Moore, CEO of FIRST. “In addition to empowering youth to pursue STEM interests, the strategic partnership we have with Dow will also support students in developing a sustainability-first mindset.” On an annual basis, Dow’s funding enables 12,000 students to participate in FIRST, engages more than 300 Dow volunteers and supports FIRST program expansion and development in 15 different countries.
About FIRST
FIRST® is a robotics community that prepares young people for the future through a suite of inclusive, team-based robotics programs for ages 4-18 (PreK-12) that can be facilitated in school or in structured after-school programs. Boosted by a global support system of volunteers, educators, and sponsors that include over 200 of the Fortune 500 companies, teams operate under a signature set of FIRST Core Values to conduct research, fundraise, design, build, and showcase their achievements during annual challenges. An international not-for-profit organization founded by accomplished inventor Dean Kamen in 1989, FIRST has a proven impact on STEM learning, interest, and skill-building well beyond high school. Participants and alumni of FIRST programs gain access to education and career discovery opportunities, connections to exclusive scholarships and employers, and a place in the FIRST community for life. Learn more at firstinspires.org.
About Dow
Dow (NYSE: DOW) combines global breadth; asset integration and scale; focused innovation and materials science expertise; leading business positions; and environmental, social and governance leadership to achieve profitable growth and help deliver a sustainable future. The Company's ambition is to become the most innovative, customer centric, inclusive and sustainable materials science company in the world. Dow's portfolio of plastics, industrial intermediates, coatings and silicones businesses delivers a broad range of differentiated, science-based products and solutions for its customers in high-growth market segments, such as packaging, infrastructure, mobility and consumer applications. Dow operates manufacturing sites in 31 countries and employs approximately 37,800 people. Dow delivered sales of approximately $57 billion in 2022. References to Dow or the Company mean Dow Inc. and its subsidiaries. For more information, please visit www.dow.com or follow @DowNewsroom on Twitter.
For further information, please contact:
Jess MacDonald
780-998-8426
jmacdonald1@dow.com
Haley Morse
hmorse@firstinspires.org