A Random Act of Kindness Changed Her Life
Now State Farm Agent Whitney Mork is Paying it Forward
Update: Whitney continued her 100 days campaign in the spring of 2021 and plans to do the same in 2022. Last November she worked with her local elementary school to write letters to veterans and lead a toy and clothing drive for children this past holiday season.
"There's no stopping," added Whitney. "Giving is foundational to my life, and it's the foundation of my agency."
Whitney Mork was 19 years old when a random act of kindness changed her life forever. Her father had recently passed away leaving her family in a precarious financial state. She had left the University of Alabama and just started work as a server at a local Birmingham restaurant. She needed to earn money so she could return to school and finish her last three semesters.
That's when Whitney's story took an almost unbelievable turn.
"One night a family came in and I was waiting on their table and they started asking me questions about my situation," said Whitney. "At the end of dinner, they handed me a sizeable check. It was enough money to help me graduate. Instead of paying it back, they asked that I pay it forward."
State Farm Agent
Whitney Mork
Whitney took that generous expression of charity to heart. Now a State Farm agent in Irondale, Ala., she honors that gift with gratitude and responsibility and strives to live every day paying it forward.
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, she decided to embark on a "100 Days of Kindness" campaign. She and her agency team provided meals for first responders and gift cards for nurses, handed out masks and hand sanitizers, went grocery shopping for customers, and helped spruce up the downtown Birmingham area.
"In all of this uncertainty, I want to be the change I want to see in the world and bring a little bit of hope to people," Whitney said. "Kindness is a chain reaction and it leads to others paying it forward."
"Whitney provided lunch for our department one day and it makes a huge impact just to know people are supporting us during these challenging times," said Chief Chris Mullins of the Mountain Brook Fire Department in Birmingham. "For Whitney to think about us in that way was really touching."
News of her story has spread and people are inspired.
"Numerous State Farm agents across the country have called me, wanting to start their own 100 Days of Kindness campaigns," remarked Whitney. "My advice to them is that something as simple as buying someone a cup of coffee can be impactful."
Whitney plans to start her next 100 days campaign in the spring. It's something she plans to continue for years to come.
"There's no stopping," added Whitney. "Giving is foundational to my life, and it's the foundation of my agency."
At State Farm, we believe doing good is contagious and there are Good Neighbors all around, even though it’s sometimes hard to see. People who, each and every day, make the world a better place, one Act of Good at a time.
That’s why we started 100 for Good™.
Giving back, doing good and being there when it counts are all a part of our State Farm culture. It’s who we are, and it’s who you are, too. 100 for Good brings us all together so we can see all the amazing Acts of Good our fellow Good Neighbors are doing across the country.
Big or small, every Act of Good makes a difference. Donating old clothes, paying for a stranger’s coffee, or big acts like Whitney’s.
Together, we can do so much good, and inspire others to join the movement of making this world a better place, one Act of Good at a time.
For over 100 years, the mission of State Farm has been to help people manage the risks of everyday life, recover from the unexpected and realize their dreams. State Farm and its affiliates are the largest providers of auto and home insurance in the United States. Its more than 19,400 agents and 67,000 employees serve over 91 million policies and accounts – including auto, fire, life, health, commercial policies and financial services accounts. Commercial auto insurance, along with coverage for renters, business owners, boats and motorcycles, is also available. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company is the parent of the State Farm family of companies. State Farm is ranked No. 44 on the 2023 Fortune 500 list of largest companies. For more information, please visit http://www.statefarm.com.
