State Farm Neighborhood Assist is a crowd-sourced philanthropic grant program. It empowers communities to identify issues in their neighborhoods. Non-profits affiliated with each of the top 40 causes receive grants to address them.

“State Farm is proud to support the good neighbors who will be implementing the winning projects in their communities,” said Annette Martinez, Senior Vice President at State Farm. “We look forward to seeing the impact of these grants.”

Two thousand cause submissions were accepted in July at www.neighborhoodassist.com. The State Farm Review Committee selected the top 200 finalists and public voting determined the 40 grant winners. In the nine years of the program, more than 340 causes have received a total of $9 million to enact change in their communities.

For a complete list of this year’s winning causes, please visit: www.neighborhoodassist.com.

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State Farm® is giving 40 communities in 22 states an assist to fund neighborhood improvement projects. In just 10 days this fall, 145,000 people cast 3.9 million votes in support of their favorite causes. State Farm is proud to announce the Top 40 vote-getting causes. Each has won a $25,000 grant to benefit their communities.

State Farm Neighborhood Assist is a crowd-sourced philanthropic grant program. It empowers communities to identify issues in their neighborhoods. Non-profits affiliated with each of the top 40 causes receive grants to address them.

“State Farm is proud to support the good neighbors who will be implementing the winning projects in their communities,” said Annette Martinez, Senior Vice President at State Farm. “We look forward to seeing the impact of these grants.”

Two thousand cause submissions were accepted in July at www.neighborhoodassist.com. The State Farm Review Committee selected the top 200 finalists and public voting determined the 40 grant winners. In the nine years of the program, more than 340 causes have received a total of $9 million to enact change in their communities.

For a complete list of this year’s winning causes, please visit: www.neighborhoodassist.com.

Early in a disaster, waves of support come in the form of needed supplies and manpower. But after those first waves subside, the need remains.

To assist, State Farm has issued $250,000 in grants to on-the-ground nonprofits across California, Oregon and Washington.

State Farm actively supports charitable programs and volunteerism in communities across the country every day. But the company also sets aside special funding each year to respond to natural disasters and other crises. These extra funds supplement the support of agents and Claims teams in these communities. They help meet ongoing human services needs (food and shelter) and future prevention projects.

And the good neighbor spirit of agents further extends the reach of the company’s on-the-ground charitable arm.

Wildfires today are extremely different and more dangerous than they were in the past. Wildfires are burning closer to homes, businesses and populated communities compared to previously being events that happen only in forests.

“Today, more families and business owners are being displaced when a wildfire occurs because of evacuation orders and loss of residences and businesses,” Senior Vice President Annette Martinez said. “This leads to an immediate need for shelter, food, evacuation help and medical assistance. These grants will support those recovery efforts.”

“The West Coast recovery effort will be an enormous task,” Director of Corporate Responsibility Ed Woods said. “The organizations receiving grant support through this relief package are some of the first organizations to respond to the devastation and will continue to provide assistance during the recovery phase.”

In addition to the wildfires on the West Coast, State Farm has provided disaster response grants for the Iowa derecho, Hurricane Laura and Nashville tornadoes.

Louisiana agent spearheads Hurricane Laura donation drive

Laura bore down on Lake Charles, La., last month as a powerful Category 4 hurricane, the strongest to strike the state since 1856. In the aftermath, shattered structures, crumpled cars and dangling power lines bore witness to the strength of the storm.

Blake Wheelis is an agent in West Monroe, La., about 200 miles north of Lake Charles. He saw his state smacked yet again by a monstrous storm, only 15 years after Hurricane Katrina.

“Monroe was heavily impacted but nothing like the devastation in Lake Charles,” he said. “My heart hurt for them, so I mobilized efforts to help.”

Blake sent a note to fellow agents telling them about the devastation in his home state. He also created a way anyone can donate to help residents through United Way.

As of Sept. 23, more than $40,000 in donations have poured in.

“State Farm agents are doing what they always do — helping others when they need help,” Blake added. “The bond among us is unique.”

All donations will be used to help feed Lake Charles residents and assist with recovery.

“When all is said and done, none of us will be remembered for how we enjoyed times of prosperity, but we will be remembered for how we responded during times of adversity,” Blake said.

From Sept. 23 through Oct. 2, U.S. residents, 18 and older with a valid email address, can vote for their favorite cause(s) at www.neighborhoodassist.com. Each of the top 40 vote-getters receives a $25,000 grant.

State Farm Neighborhood Assist is a crowd-sourced philanthropic program. It empowers communities to identify issues and submit them for grant consideration. From 2,000 submissions, the State Farm Review Committee selected the top 200 finalists. They represent 36 states.

The top 200 causes have until Oct. 2 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern time to rally votes. Voters may cast up to 10 votes per day - using them all on one cause, or spreading them out in any way among multiple causes.

On Nov. 4, the top 40 vote-receiving causes will be announced at www.neighborhoodassist.com. 

“During these challenging times, State Farm is pleased to offer grant opportunities through Neighborhood Assist,” said Annette Martinez, State Farm Senior Vice President. “It’s part of our commitment to helping build safer, stronger and better educated communities.”

For a complete list of the top 200 causes or to vote for a cause, go to www.neighborhoodassist.com.

From Sept. 23 through Oct. 2, U.S. residents, 18 and older with a valid email address, can vote for their favorite cause(s) at www.neighborhoodassist.com. Each of the top 40 vote-getters receives a $25,000 grant.

State Farm Neighborhood Assist is a crowd-sourced philanthropic program. It empowers communities to identify issues and submit them for grant consideration. From 2,000 submissions, the State Farm Review Committee selected the top 200 finalists. They represent 36 states.

The top 200 causes have until Oct. 2 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern time to rally votes. Voters may cast up to 10 votes per day - using them all on one cause, or spreading them out in any way among multiple causes.

On Nov. 4, the top 40 vote-receiving causes will be announced at www.neighborhoodassist.com. 

“During these challenging times, State Farm is pleased to offer grant opportunities through Neighborhood Assist,” said Annette Martinez, State Farm Senior Vice President. “It’s part of our commitment to helping build safer, stronger and better educated communities.”

For a complete list of the top 200 causes or to vote for a cause, go to www.neighborhoodassist.com.

Rankin is the executive director of Happy Wheels, a nonprofit organization that provides toys and books for hospitalized children at three hospitals in South Carolina. Although their mission is on hold because of COVID-19, the organization is still working to provide happiness and a distraction for children.

“We’re all about providing a moment of kid time to enjoy non-medical time during their hospital stay. We hear a lot that the Happy Wheels cart is the only bright spot for the kids,” Rankin said. “For those couple of minutes, it takes their mind off what they are there for and lets them be a kid.”

Happy Wheels also focuses on teaching younger generations to give back and help those not as fortunate by providing volunteer service hour opportunities. High school and college students host toy drives or fundraisers for Happy Wheels, and also help Rankin write thank you notes and sort toys into each age group.

Rankin said when Happy Wheels is allowed into the hospitals, about 300-350 kids receive a toy or book a week.

“The best part is seeing the change in their faces when we tell them why we’re there,” she said. “A majority of the kids don’t know who we are, so we knock on the door and they’re skeptical. When they see the cart, the change in their faces is indescribable. The child-like joy and ability to forget everything going on – there is no other feeling like it.”

Happy Wheels received a State Farm Neighborhood Assist grant in 2019.

In its ninth year, State Farm Neighborhood Assist provides $25,000 grants to 40 nonprofits each year to help fund neighborhood improvement projects. Because of the many challenges facing our nation right now, State Farm^® is removing all category requirements for submissions this year. This action will free up communities to submit causes to address their greatest needs.

The submission phase opens July 15 and ends when 2,000 submissions are reached. The State Farm Review Committee narrows the field to the Top 200 finalists using a scoring rubric. The voting phase will then take place Sept. 23-Oct. 2, when voters can vote for their favorite cause 10 times a day, every day. Finally, the 40 causes that receive the most votes will each win a $25,000 grant. Winners will be announced on Wednesday, Nov. 4, at www.neighborhoodassist.com.

"Grant programs that address community needs, like Neighborhood Assist, are more important than ever,” said Annette Martinez, State Farm Senior Vice President. “This initiative truly embodies the spirit of being a Good Neighbor.”

Last year, 163,000 people cast 4.4 million votes in support of their favorite causes, selecting winners from small towns and big cities. Since the program began, State Farm has awarded $8 million in support of more than 300 causes.

Rankin is hoping to win again this year.

“As a small nonprofit, it’s difficult to get grants. Neighborhood Assist gives us a chance to compete with the larger nonprofits,” she said. “I’ve never seen a grant process like it. I’m really grateful to State Farm.”

The commitment includes a $4 million national grant to LISC to expand employment, revitalize commercial corridors, promote health and enhance community safety in 12 cities over the next two years. In addition, State Farm has set up a $10 million loan pool with LISC focused on its home state of Illinois. It will specifically address the needs of small businesses and community nonprofits hit hard by COVID-19 in Central Illinois communities like Peoria, Bloomington and Springfield, as well as Chicago.

“This year marks our 20-year anniversary of investing in LISC—an organization vital to connecting resources to communities in need,” said Annette Martinez, senior vice president for State Farm. “We know that together, we are creating economic opportunities to help communities grow and prosper—and providing relief to small businesses and nonprofit organizations struggling due to COVID-19.”

The $10 million pool, announced in late April, will offer low-cost loans of up to $250,000, with LISC’s local program staff in Central Illinois and Chicago connecting with businesses and nonprofits to deploy capital. The loans are one piece of the larger State Farm COVID-19 relief strategy, which includes $2 billion in premium rebates to customers.

At the same time, the new grant from State Farm will fuel national outreach strategies, including support for staffing and tools focused on addressing the root causes of poor health in communities. Grant funds will further advance long-term community investment programs in 12 metro areas, with a particular focus on:

• Financial Opportunity Centers, which provide a range of integrated services to help people build financial stability—from job training and placement to financial coaching and income support.
• Commercial corridor revitalization and anti-displacement strategies in gentrifying communities, to catalyze economic vitality that benefits local residents.
• Community health and safety programs, such as “green” strategies for affordable housing and recreation programs that engage at-risk youth.

Implementation will vary to meet local needs. For example, the new State Farm grant will seed the opening of a new Financial Opportunity Center in Atlanta, so LISC can support financial and employment services for hundreds of residents. In Indianapolis, it will fuel a program that revitalizes underutilized industrial sites, creating jobs and economic vibrancy. In Milwaukee, it will advance public safety strategies that connect community members, businesses and law enforcement in common efforts, while also fueling “creative placemaking” activities to reduce crime. And, in Phoenix, it will support transit-oriented development plans that revitalize businesses in often-overlooked communities.

“Now, as we all face uncertain days ahead, State Farm has once again stepped up to help, both responding to the immediate crisis and continuing to support long-term opportunities for stability, opportunity and growth," said Maurice A. Jones, LISC CEO.

In addition to these four cities, the State Farm grant will support similar local efforts in the Bay Area (Oakland/San Francisco), Chicago, Houston, Minneapolis/St. Paul, New York, Peoria, Ill., Philadelphia, and Tacoma, Wash.

“Even before the global health crisis, State Farm had long supported strategies to build stronger, more inclusive local economies where families and businesses could thrive,” said Maurice A. Jones, LISC president and CEO. “Now, as we all face uncertain days ahead, State Farm has once again stepped up to help, both responding to the immediate crisis and continuing to support long-term opportunities for stability, opportunity and growth. We are enormously grateful for their steadfast support.”

Over the last 20 years, State Farm has invested $149 million in LISC’s community development programs, leveraging more than $11 billion to build or rehabilitate 53,000 affordable homes, create more than 20 million square feet of retail, community, and educational space, and serve nearly 215,000 people through income- and wealth-building initiatives.

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As consumers increasingly look to corporations to lead and support socially conscious and community-friendly efforts, the shift to a corporate responsibility model will take the good work State Farm already does today and empower the organization to accomplish even greater things.

State Farm has appointed Annette Martinez, Senior Vice President, as the leader of this new department. Martinez has been deeply embedded in the philanthropic efforts of the company for many years and has long been a champion of diversity, launching the first office of diversity and inclusion for the company.

“We are excited to announce this new Corporate Responsibility Department to bring together community, employee engagement, diversity and philanthropic efforts,” says Martinez. “This is a big step forward as we continue working to model, inspire and empower Good Neighbor behavior through community involvement and positive impacts inside and outside State Farm.”

Join us in our efforts to make a difference in our communities by visiting the State Farm Neighborhood of Good®.