Ongoing involvement in the community

2005.10.31
Hemlock Semiconductor Group Volunteers Build for the Future

What better way to spend a part of fall than to get outside, work with your fellow employees in a different environment, and volunteer to help others.

For a three-week period beginning Sept. 26, more than 80 Hemlock Semiconductor Group volunteers helped Saginaw Habitat for Humanity (SHFH) build its first house in Saginaw County.

"This project began as a way to give back to the Saginaw Community and, fortunately, became a great team-building experience for our employees," said Cindy Kroll, a manufacturing and safety and loss prevention staff professional at Hemlock Semiconductor, and the point person for the project.

It all started when Kevin Nesbit, an Hemlock Semiconductor journeyperson, approached Greg Skufca, Hemlock Semiconductor site manager, about getting involved with SHFH to build a house. They formed a committee, designated house leaders, and asked retirees, employees, and their families to volunteer.

The response was immediate and overwhelming.

Normally, house leaders meet with SHFH construction crews on five separate occasions to discuss plans and timetables, but because of the high skill level of the Hemlock Semiconductor house leaders and volunteers, one meeting was sufficient.

After the first day, the volunteers were told that, at the rate they were constructing, their planned three-week build would likely be two. At one point, the crews even ran out of building materials and had to take a day off.

The biggest challenge, according to Cindy, was maintaining the balance between work and volunteering. The daily volunteer schedule needed to be flexible to accommodate employee commitments to the plant.

"We needed to make sure we kept focus on the plant and expansion, while maintaining interest and energy on the house project," she said.

Funded by donations from the Saginaw community, the volunteers turned an empty plot of land to a three-bedroom house, and a new home to a low-income working family of five. The house was built, landscaped, and dedicated in 13 days.

"This is a positive partnership with Saginaw Habitat for Humanity," Greg said. "Our employees, retirees, and family members are excited to have this opportunity to give back to the community."

At the dedication ceremony, Greg thanked all the Hemlock Semiconductor volunteers and told SHFH that the plant will look into the possibility of another build next year.

Hemlock Semiconductor Group (www.hscpoly.com) is the world's leading provider of polycrystalline silicon and other silicon-based products used in the manufacturing of semiconductor devices and passive solar cells and modules. Headquartered in Hemlock, Michigan, Hemlock Semiconductor is owned in majority and managed by Dow Corning Corporation.

Dow Corning Corporation (www.dowcorning.com) provides performance-enhancing solutions to serve the diverse needs of more than 25,000 customers worldwide. A global leader in silicon-based technology and innovation, offering more than 7,000 products and services, Dow Corning is equally owned by The Dow Chemical Company and Corning, Incorporated. More than half of Dow Corning's annual sales are outside the United States.