In commemoration of its 100th anniversary, State Farm® is dedicating $2 million dollars to create safer, stronger more resilient communities.

The grants, known as the Century of Good, will support projects focused on a range of community-specific environmental priorities. These include improving air quality and energy efficiency, addressing climate change, improving recycling rates and conserving green spaces.

Building stronger neighborhoods together

Up to $500,000 in funding will be provided to community-based organizations within Bloomington, Illinois, Normal, Illinois, Atlanta, Georgia, Tempe, Arizona and Dallas, Texas.

Cultivating a healthy, sustainable environment

The grantees include:

City of Bloomington Parks, Recreation & Cultural Arts Department (Bloomington, IL) is working to provide current and future generations a sense of community, preserved green spaces, and diverse programs. Century of Good grant funding will be leveraged for revitalization projects at O’Neil Park, including native planting.

Town of Normal Parks & Recreation Department (Normal, IL) provides citizens and visitors with a clean, safe, environmentally pleasant community. Century of Good grant funding will be used to support revitalization projects at Carden Park and the Constitution Trail.

The Ecology Action Center (EAC) (Normal, IL) serves as a central resource for environmental education, outreach and assistance. To improve air quality, reduce carbon sequestration and provide watershed protection, the EAC launched a tree planting program in 2021. Its goal is to plant 100,000 new trees in McLean County over the next 10 years.

Live Thrive (Atlanta, GA) diverts household hazardous waste from landfills and water systems by providing a permanent drop-off facility for hard to recycle items. The organization is expanding, with plans to open a new location.

Trust for Public Land (Dallas, TX) helps communities raise money, conduct research, protect land and design/renovate parks, playgrounds, trails and gardens. It’s working to expand park and trail access to impacted neighborhoods while improving health, education and equitable development in Southern Dallas.

The Office of Sustainability (Tempe, AZ) is mitigating the negative effects of extreme heat. Collaborating with local school districts, first responders and businesses, Tempe is planning to address storm water retention, plant native trees and outfit public buildings with renewable energy.

To learn more about the company’s commitment to environmental sustainability, visit esg.statefarm.com.

It was progressive for the times but from a 2022 mindset, the doors of diversity could have opened much sooner. After 44 years, State Farm the country’s biggest insurer, would finally have an African American agent in their ranks.

Sherry Ann Devouse-Dennard

Nearly 50 years after Ray Adkins knocked on his first door in Chicago’s south side to sell insurance, Sherry Ann Devouse-Dennard was opening her doors in a south suburb of Atlanta.

“I never saw (being a person of color) as a challenge, but instead a chance to really capitalize on what I saw was the greatest opportunity. I got in front of influential people, involved in local events, and tried to make the biggest splash in a small community I could make. It saddens me we still live in a society where skin color is more important than a person’s character to some people,” shared Devouse-Dennard. “But I have had more wonderful experiences with customers than bad, by far.”

Devouse-Dennard is part of the more than 1,500 African-American, State Farm agents across the country. She joined State Farm because she wanted to be a part of something special that would allow her to not only build a legacy for her family, but also have a meaningful impact in her community.

Alyssa Holloway

Alyssa Holloway, just outside of Birmingham, Ala., became an agent for similar reasons. “Becoming an agent has given me the opportunity to educate our customers, team members – or whomever I encounter – to not give up and continue to run the race and go after their dreams.”

Holloway also loves to give back to her community each year by providing hundreds of backpacks filled with school supplies so children have all the essentials for a successful school year. She and her team also give back to the Downtown Birmingham area by bringing food, clothes and warmers during cold winter months to those in need.

Holloway also donates to and sponsors a Breast Cancer Awareness event annually and has made it a tradition at her agency. “African American women have a 31% breast cancer mortality rate, being the highest of any U.S. racial or ethnic group,” shared Holloway. She said she feels it is her duty and assignment to provide in all ways possible to her local community.

Dwan Johnson-Bell

Chicago Agent Dwan Johnson-Bell echoes the opportunities to educate as a community leader. “I grew up without a lot of means and wondered how I could change the plight of my own family and others around me. I always felt that it was my purpose to educate my community.

“When I was introduced to State Farm, I felt it was the perfect platform to educate.”

When others wonder about becoming a State Farm agent, Dwan says, “Go for it! Agency has truly changed the trajectory of my life. It has allowed me to gainfully employ others and to give back to my family and my community in a way that I had not been able to do before.”

“Black History Month is a celebration of achievements by Black Americans like our amazing, agents Dwan, Alyssa and Sherry, and it’s a time to recognize African Americans’ central role in U.S. history,” said State Farm Chief Diversity Officer, Victor Terry.” We know there is still much to be done and more doors to be opened as we continue to work together to build a better future. Coming together to celebrate both our 100th anniversary and our future is where we’ll see real progress.”

This year, the program will award 100 $25,000 grants (vs. 40 grants in previous years) to nonprofit organizations to help fund neighborhood improvement projects. Additionally, we’re doubling the number of cause submissions to 4,000.

“State Farm Neighborhood Assist truly embodies the spirit of what our company has been about for 100 years-being a good neighbor,” said Rasheed Merritt, assistant vice president at State Farm. “We are excited about expanding the program in 2022 to help even more neighborhoods.”

Here’s how the program works:

Submission Phase: Starts February 16 and ends when 4,000 submissions are reached

Individuals can submit a cause at www.neighborhoodassist.com starting February 16 at 1pm ET. You can prepare now by going to the website and downloading the submission guide. We will accept the first 4,000 submissions. The State Farm Review Committee will then narrow the field to the Top 200 finalists using a scoring rubric.

Voting Phase: April 27-May 6

Ultimately, voters will decide which community improvement projects win big. The public will have a chance to vote 10 times a day, every day for 10 days, from April 27-May 6, for their favorite causes from the list of finalists. Voting will take place at www.neighborhoodassist.com.

Winners Announced: June 7

The 100 causes that receive the most votes will each win a $25,000 grant. Winners will be announced on Tuesday, June 7, at www.neighborhoodassist.com

Last year, 125,000 people cast more than 3 million votes in support of their favorite causes, selecting winners from small towns and big cities.

Since the program began in 2012, more than 380 causes have received a total of $10 million to enact change in their communities.