State Farm recently announced the start of its State Farm Neighborhood Assist program, giving folks the opportunity to help change their communities for the better.
This philanthropic program awards 40 causes a $25,000 grant, and anyone in the United States can submit a cause through March 29. Ultimately, voters will decide which community improvement projects win big.
Last year, West Virginia had three winners including Our House Youth Ministries Inc. in Parsons, Yummy Bags Ministries in Hinton and the Lewis Baseball Association in Weston.
Liz Lancaster, Director of Our House Youth Ministries Inc., said the grant they received was instrumental in helping their group.
“The Tucker County Veterans Association was helping to raise money for us,” Lancaster said. “When the group went to State Farm to ask for a donation for their cause, local agent Bob Gutshall told them about the opportunity. Bobby Phillips brought the idea back to me, and I called Bob Gutshall. It was a last minute thing, and the application was due that day.”
Lancaster said she fretted about the application, but said it was all online and was very simple to complete.
“It didn’t take very long to complete the application,” Lancaster said. “I thought we were blessed and $25,000 would really make a difference. We were thrilled when we found out we were chosen. We are a Godly institution, and believe we had some divine intervention.”
Lancaster said it was miraculous – Our House Youth Ministries Inc. was selected as one of 200 causes selected for the chance to win $25,000 – from a pool of 4,000 applications.
“There were 200 causes that went on to the Facebook vote,” Lancaster said. “The top 40 causes receiving the most votes each day for a period of time, won the $25,000.”
Returning for its fourth year, State Farm Neighborhood Assist asks individuals to identify causes that would help make their communities safer, stronger and better-educated. Up to 4,000 causes will be accepted. Then, the State Farm Youth Advisory Board will narrow down the field, using a scoring rubric to identify the top 200 submissions. The public will have a chance to vote 10 times a day from May 14 through June 3 for their favorite causes from the list of finalists. The 40 causes that receive the most votes will win a $25,000 grant. The nominations and votes will be accepted exclusively through a free Facebook app.
Since the program began, State Farm has awarded $3 million to 120 communities across North America, supporting a wide variety of causes, including fighting childhood hunger, helping homeless veterans, revitalizing parks, improving literacy and offering athletic programs for children with disabilities.
“State Farm Neighborhood Assist helps individuals be the face of change in their communities,” said Kellie Clapper, State Farm Assistant Vice President. “From identifying an important cause to rallying your community to vote for it, this program is all about neighbors helping neighbors.”
Last year, people cast millions of votes for their favorite causes, selecting winners from small towns and big cities. To learn more about State Farm Neighborhood Assist or to get the free Facebook app, visit www.statefarm.com/neighborhoodassist.
State Farm Neighborhood Assist will accept causes through March 29, exclusively through Facebook, and the State Farm Youth Advisory Board will chose and identify the top 200 finalists by May 13. Voting for causes, exclusively through Facebook will begin May 14 and end June 3. State Farm will announce the winners of the State Farm Neighborhood Assist Program on June 16.
The State Farm Youth Advisory Board is comprised of 30 students, ages 17-20, from across the United States and Canada who serve a two-year term. Their directive is to implement a $5 million-a-year signature service-learning initiative to address issues important to youth and communities. The Board is completely autonomous and youth-driven, and funds projects focused on issues selected by the board that impact youth. It consists of a diverse group of full-time students at high schools and universities. Each member commits about 15 hours a month to the Board and participates in three face-to-face meetings per calendar year. The Board will fund the 40 grants awarded through the State Farm Neighborhood Assist program with a portion of its $5 million funding in 2015. For more information on the Youth Advisory Board, visit www.statefarmyab.com.
