When Christine Lopez woke up Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2011, she didn’t expect the day to be so life-changing; literally upside down.

It started as a nearly perfect day in East Los Angeles. The sun was shining, a light breeze, barely a cloud in the sky. Christine and her five-year-old Leilani spent most of the morning looking for a special gift at the mall.

Around one o’clock in the afternoon, Christine decided it was time to head home. With Leilani buckled into her car seat enjoying a snack, she got behind the wheel of her SUV. She queued up Leilani’s favorite playlist, and headed for the nearest intersection.

The mother and daughter laughed and sang along to the music while waiting for the traffic light to turn green. When it finally did, Christine lifted her foot off the brake pedal, started to make a left turn — and then it happened…

In the blink of an eye, Christine’s wonderful day turned into a nightmare. A vehicle ran the red light and broadsided the Lopez family at 40 miles per hour. The smaller gas-electric hybrid impacted the SUV’s rear passenger side door and quarter panel, causing it to spin around several times and ultimately flip over.

When the glass, metal, and plastic stopped flying and the dust settled, they were upside down and facing the wrong way in oncoming traffic on a heavily-traveled street.

“I must have lost consciousness for a moment or two, but once I came around, Leilani was all I could think about,” Christine recalled. “I was upside down, and the car was eerily silent. I was afraid to look back. But when I did, I saw my daughter’s smiling face staring back at me. She was also hanging upside down in her car seat — safe and sound — giggling, ‘I’m upside down, mommy. Wheeee. That was fun,’ just like she had just been on an amusement park ride or something.”

Montebello Police Officer Oscar Chavez was the first emergency responder to reach the crash site and was surprised to find no one seriously hurt.

"Not many people walk-away from such a wreck unscathed. Whenever there’s an overturned vehicle or car on its side, we expect the worst, often finding a severely injured person or persons inside the vehicle,” shared Officer Chavez. “But that wasn’t the case here. We don’t normally see a motorist involved in this serious of a collision walk away without a scratch, especially a child. It was amazing, and says a lot about proper use of restraints.”

Most would say Christine and her daughter were lucky, that fate was on their side that day. But Christine was also smart. Had she not been practicing what she learned from a child passenger safety seat inspection undergone a few days prior, the outcome could’ve been much different.

Just four days before and at the urging of a close friend in the California Highway Patrol, Christine decided to attend a child passenger safety/safety seat inspection event in her neighborhood sponsored by State Farm®.

Ninety-six percent of parents like Christine, roll up to an inspection station confident that the seats protecting their kids are installed and being used correctly.

Fajardo says most people don’t. “Some seats get passed down from kid to kid, borrowed from family members, or purchased at second hand stores, yard sales or thrift stores,” she explained. “We don’t recommended secondhand seats because you never know what you’re going to get. The effects of wear and tear or other environmental factors over the years could’ve compromised the straps, plastic, or locking mechanisms.”

During the inspection, Fajardo made one other change: she moved Leilani’s seat from the passenger side to the center of the back seat.

While sitting in the middle isn’t a safety requirement, it worked for Christine since Leilani was generally the only rear seat passenger – and as luck would have it, this was the reason Leilani wasn’t sitting by the door that was struck four days later.

After the evaluation was complete, Christine was a bit frustrated but grateful. Officer Fajardo replaced her expired booster seat with a smaller safety seat with a five point harness. Then, taught Christine how to install it and how to properly restrain Leilani in it.

“It was intense and humbling, learning that I was putting my daughter at risk,” admits Christine.

While the child safety seat played a pivotal role for Leilani, it wasn’t the only passenger safety restraint at work in this case. The seat belt and airbags played critical roles, too. It quite possibly saved Christine’s life.

It’s been ten years since Christine and Leilani dangled upside down on Montebello Boulevard.

While the physical bumps and bruises have all healed, the memories still linger.

“Every time we drive by that intersection, Leilani says, ‘Remember what happened here, Mommy?’ I say, ‘How can I forget, baby.’”

Leilani, now almost sixteen, like many teens, has no urge to drive herself. She’s more than content letting her mom stay behind the wheel.

Christine still wonders what could have happened if she had stayed in bed on October 22, rather than go to the child seat inspection.

“What if Leilani’s seat hadn’t been replaced?” wonders Christine. “What if her seat was anchored in the passenger side rear seat at the time of the collision? What if I hadn’t buckled up properly? Would we still be alive?”

What if, indeed.

Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there. It's more than a slogan; it's who we are.

For the past 100 years, we've made it our mission to restore lives, help rebuild neighborhoods, invest in communities, and support education and safety initiatives – like car seat safety - where we live and work. It's what being a good neighbor is all about. 

The agreement also establishes a pathway for State Farm employees to transfer prior learning assessment (PLA) credits into the baccalaureate degree program at Lincoln College.

The PLA credits are awarded by Heartland for workplace training programs completed by State Farm Customer Care Center (CCC) employees. The credit recognizes learning that is completed outside of the classroom and can allow a student to enroll in more advanced courses without some prerequisites. Lincoln College will accept PLA credit toward a bachelor’s degree for transfer students, ensuring a smooth transition from HCC to Lincoln College for students utilizing PLA credit.

The agreement was announced and signed during the June Board of Trustees meeting at Heartland Community College. The CCC College Credit program is currently only available to CCC employees in Phoenix and now Bloomington. State Farm is working to expand the program in the Dallas and Atlanta hub locations.

“These free college credits for State Farm CCC employees are a win-win,” said Steve Florence, CCC assistant vice president. “At State Farm, our employees’ education and professional development is very important to us. After meeting eligibility criteria, employees may earn college credits for training they took while working. This saves them time, money, and can jump-start their college career.”

In the News:

Pantagraph - Watch now: Heartland, Lincoln College, State Farm enter agreements (6/15/21)

Lincoln Courier - Two local colleges have new agreement with State Farm (6/15/21)

WRPW-FM 92.9 - Lincoln College and Heartland Community College Announce New Articulation (6/15/21)

WHOI-TV - Heartland Community College, Lincoln College announce new partnership (6/15/21)

Herald & Review - Watch now: Heartland, Lincoln College sign agreement (6/15/21)

To put it in perspective, in 2019 State Farm received around 6,000 claims from named storms, totaling approximately $26 million. In 2020, claims filed neared 163,000 and exceeded $1.9 billion in cost.

Total Claims Paid | Home & Auto

1. Louisiana $1.3 billion
2. Alabama $165 million
3. Georgia $94 million
4. New York $64 million
5. Texas $45 million

Hurricanes cause destruction to homes, communities, and lives. It is important to plan and prepare best you can for hurricane season with an evacuation plan, updating insurance documents, and ready-to-go emergency kits.

• How to create a home inventory
• Preparing for a hurricane
• FAQs following a hurricane

In 2020, Labs @State Farm began partnering with Whisker Labs and offering Ting devices to eligible customers in Arizona, California and Texas. As a result, over 40,000 devices were provided to customers resulting in numerous success stories and, in many cases, fire loss prevention. Some of these preventive detections included sensing clear arcing signals isolated to a chandelier in a master bathroom, identifying a missing neutral connection in a sub-panel, and detecting arcing signals consistent with water interaction with an electrical system.

What you need to know

We are now ready to expand the offering of Ting to more State Farm customers. Through 2021 and 2022, State Farm will begin offering an additional 100,000 Ting devices to non-tenant homeowner policyholders in more states. We will begin marketing to qualified policyholders in Ohio on May 18 (additional states and dates are yet to be determined, while Ting continues to be available in Arizona, California and Texas).

Qualified customers who enroll will receive:

• Free Ting sensor with mobile app access
• Pay no annual service fees for three years (fees paid by State Farm)
• Receive $1,000 credit toward remediation of electrical fire hazards (provided by Whisker Labs) 

Eligible policyholders will receive a targeted marketing email from their State Farm agent when the opportunity is available to participate in the Ting program.

“State Farm is committed to fire safety and providing customers the newest fire safety technology. We’re excited about the expansion of the Ting sensor program. Now, even more homeowners can have the peace of mind that they’re doing everything possible to protect one of their most valuable assets,” says Chris Schell, Senior Vice President – Property & Casualty. ““We have found our customers love how simple it is to install and really appreciate the app keeping them informed.”

How does Ting Work?

Ting monitors the electrical network of a home using a smart plug-in sensor to help detect hazards, so they can be fixed before they have a chance to ignite a fire. The main precursors to electrical fires, micro-arcs and sparks that develop, happen in faulty wires, loose connections and faulty appliances or devices. These signs usually develop over weeks and months, so Ting is designed to provide you with advanced warnings to address these hazards prior to the hazard starting an electrical fire.^[1] Check out this video on how Ting works.

Ting may also help detect electrical faults in the utility grid that could damage your home and potentially trigger wildfires.

"The Whisker Labs Ting team is very proud to support State Farm Insurance in this important initiative. We are committed to helping protect State Farm customers by monitoring the electricity that we all rely on for virtually everything in our lives today," said Bob Marshall, Co-Founder & CEO of Whisker Labs. “It is incredibly gratifying each time Ting helps identify an electrical fault, mitigate the hazard and prevent a fire from developing."

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:

• Simple Insights Article
• Household Electrical Hazards
• Smart Home and Smart Grid: Whisker Labs Announces A Significant Milestone for Both

With Digital Pay, State Farm customers will now have greater flexibility in how they receive approved and reviewed auto and fire claims payments. This technology will give State Farm the ability to digitally disperse qualifying claims payments. In turn, our customers will have the ability to choose a payment method that best suits their needs. State Farm began an incremental deployment of payout technology in February to test and tune the payment option.

Leveraging Fiserv technology, State Farm will be able to distribute reviewed and approved claim payments into customer accounts quickly and securely.

Some of the options and benefits of Digital Pay include:

• Increased speed of payment delivery
• Customer choice of payment delivery options
• Streamlined enrollment processes
• Simplified customer communications

“We believe this new capability will support our goal to personalize the customer experience and help more people in more ways,” said Schuyler Schupbach, Vice President of Property & Casualty Claims at State Farm. “As an industry leader, we are committed to ongoing transformation to meet the changing needs and expectations of customers including modernizing our technology. We are excited to introduce digital payment options through Fiserv that will simplify the claims payout process for our customers and provide added convenience.”

At Fiserv, digital payouts are part of the Carat omnichannel commerce ecosystem that securely delivers unlimited payment opportunities across the most popular channels and devices. Through simple API access, Fiserv enables clients like State Farm to easily access pre-integrated solutions – such as payouts – that allow businesses to imagine and realize new customer experiences.

“Carat is helping organizations like State Farm move money and information with the speed, flexibility, and convenience that today’s consumer demands, said Nandan Sheth, head of Carat and Digital Commerce at Fiserv. As businesses look to create positive new consumer experiences, the ability to pay out funds with the same speed and simplicity with which they are paid in can be a significant differentiator.”

In an age of fast-paced technology and the rise of FinTech firms, it is important for insurers and financial institutions to continuously invest, innovate, and evolve. State Farm is a proven innovator and continually encourages change inside and outside the industry. We’re the right company to find solutions for a future inspired by our customers, employees and the communities we serve. We are prepared for today and are always looking into the future.

State Farm® is using technology to help homeowners better prepare and recover from the devastating impact of wildfires. These new tech tools - a sensor, an app, and your smartphone - places the power of preparation in the palm of consumers’ hands. Currently, 4.5 million U.S. homes are identified as being at high risk of wildfire. This makes the technology and wildfire preparation tools even more critical.

Ting

Ting is a plug-in device and smartphone app produced by Whisker Labs, a company specializing in fire safety using advanced technology to monitor electrical systems in the home and on the electrical utility grid.

The device is the size of a plug-in night light and can offer protection from electrical fires. Once plugged into a home electrical outlet, Ting is on the lookout for unique signals that are indicative of an electrical problem that could lead to a home fire. These signals can originate from loose connections, damaged wires or faulty devices and appliances, or from faults on the grid. If Ting detects anything unusual, it sends a notification to the customer’s mobile phone while also notifying the Whisker Labs’ monitoring center.

Electrical fires are responsible for originating 13% of all U.S. home fires, with an annual cost of $1.3 billion (National Fire Protection Association 2019 Survey). That’s an alarming statistic. While Ting can help detect electrical fire hazards in the home, it can also help detect wildfire ignition risks from the grid. The device can detect signals from malfunctions or fluctuations on the grid that indicate the risk of a fault or larger arcing event. A common example is electrical transformers that are typically installed outside the home to reduce the high-voltage supply from the grid into the low-voltage needed for a residence. When transformers work well, we don’t notice them. It’s a different story when they begin to experience issues and fail to operate correctly, or simply fail outright (Ting). These faults can cause safety issues, fire hazards, and damage to devices inside your home or produce sparks that could trigger a wildfire and potentially put other structures at risk.

Last summer, Whisker Labs helped launch a significant distribution program in partnership with State Farm. Eligible State Farm customers in Arizona, California, and Texas received Ting for free by simply enrolling online. In May, Whisker Labs announced 40,000 Ting devices had been distributed. Expansion to more customers in more states is planned in 2021.

IBHS Wildfire Ready App

Living in the era of apps, it is logical that the second new tool in a homeowners’ wildfire mitigation toolbox comes in app form. The Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) is one of the leading sources in the science of catastrophes. Leveraging their latest research, the goal of their new Wildfire Ready Virtual app is to help homeowners prepare their homes for a wildfire. The app uses augmented reality so that once you point your smartphone at your home, you can “see” the weak points. It also walks you through specific do-it-yourself (DIY) projects, including remodeling tips to make your home more fire resistant.

State Farm participated in the development of this app that you can download and try for yourself anytime (download for Apple or Android phones). Motivated to do even more? Check these extra wildfire protection tips in the IBHS Wildfire Ready Guide.

Home inventory

Unfortunately, there will be instances where despite preparation efforts, a wildfire may destroy your home. Recovering from such a devastating event is difficult but technology can help. This is where the third tech tool, your smartphone, takes center stage. A home inventory can show visual proof of what was in your home before it was damaged or destroyed. To this effect, the storytelling capabilities of today’s smartphones are a great ally.

A simple way to do a home inventory is to walk through each room of your home, taking pictures and videos of everything in it. Don’t forget to also step outside and take images of the structure and everything around it.

Let me introduce you to Mary. In this video she tells us the story of losing her home to a wildfire in Santa Barbara. No one better than her and her agent, Irene, to give us a home inventory 101.

So switch on these tech tools and take your wildfire safety to a whole new level.

On average, the American Red Cross responds to more than 60,000 disasters every year, the vast majority of which are home fires. Home fires are not only the most common disaster, but they are also deadly—claiming seven lives every day. Unlike natural disasters, home fires are largely preventable through fire safety education and preparedness.

Pledge to Prepare consists of two steps:

• Practice a 2-minute fire drill at least twice a year
• Test smoke alarms monthly

The Pledge to Prepare site has a downloadable escape plan worksheet which can help families draw out and plan for escape from each room in the house. The site also has step-by-step instructions on how to test smoke alarms and what to do if smoke alarms are not working.

State Farm paid $2.2 billion on nearly 36,000 claims for home fires in 2020.

“As a company, our mission is to help people manage the risks of everyday life,” said John Burns, Operations Vice President – Fire Claims. “The collaboration between State Farm and American Red Cross on Pledge to Prepare will help spread awareness about steps to diminish the impact of a home fire. It’s another way we are helping communities prepare for the unexpected.”

Please join us by taking the pledge to keep you and your loved ones safe!

To help address the impact of tree loss on communities across the country, State Farm® and the Arbor Day Foundation are announcing a new collaboration to replant trees and help build more resilience in disaster-impacted areas.

State Farm is committing $1 million to the Arbor Day Foundation in support of tree planting and reforestation projects throughout the remainder of 2021.

“Trees play a vital role in the stability of our communities and their resilience against disaster,” said State Farm Vice President of Administrative Services Jenny Greminger, who oversees the company’s environmental sustainability team. “Replanting in a strategic way will help impacted areas recover and potentially better withstand severe weather in the future.”

In consultation with the Arbor Day Foundation, key areas impacted by natural disasters have been identified in fifteen states (Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Idaho, Maryland, Michigan, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Texas, and Utah). These areas, including several national forests, will host reforestation, tree planting, and tree giveaway events starting this spring and running through the fall.

Specific events will be announced as they are confirmed. Events will address local challenges including losses from wildfires, hurricanes and tornadoes, as well as urban heat islands and emerald ash borer infestation.

This new collaboration follows the recent announcement from State Farm of a commitment to cut its greenhouse gas emissions by 50% by the end of 2030, and the release of the company’s first-ever Environmental, Social, and Governance report. These efforts are the first announced by State Farm as part of its “Good Neighbors. Better World.” initiative, in which the company is emphasizing social and environmental responsibility as essential aspects of doing business.
 

Did You Know? Quick facts on trees from the Arbor Day Foundation

Click the images below to learn more about some of the many benefits of trees for health, the economy, and everyday life.

Total Hail Claims Paid | Home & Auto

1. Texas $474.6M
2. Illinois $394.2M
3. Minnesota $259.2M
4. Missouri $236.9M
5. Colorado $207.9M

Hail can damage roofs, gutters, and windows while denting vehicles and cracking windshields. The average homeowner claim totaled nearly $12,000 and vehicle claims averaged more than $4,300, according to State Farm 2020 hail claims data.

Preparing for 2021

Extreme weather has already brought threats to parts of the country this year, but the threats are not over. Hail generally peaks during spring and summer but can occur any time of year.

What you can do now to prepare will help you weather the storm. Here are some steps to protect your property and family:

• Review insurance coverage: Ask your State Farm agent what-if questions in an insurance review.
• Know the claims process: Should your property be damaged, become familiar with the claims process now
• Be weather aware: Stay connected to forecasts when severe weather threatens.
• Update home inventory: Take pictures and video of your property for a detailed digital record
• Preparation: If there’s time and it’s safe, put vehicles in the garage and move patio furniture under cover. Close your blinds and curtains to prevent broken glass from blowing inside, possibly causing injuries or damage.

Filing a Claim

As with any storm, nature is unpredictable and experiencing damage can be draining.

Document your damage with pictures. If you need to, make temporary repairs to prevent more damage. Take pictures and save the receipts related to the temporary repairs.

• First Steps:
  • Tell us what happened
  • We’ll review your claim and policy to determine what is covered
  • You don’t have to be an insurance expert; we’ll tell you what happens next
  • We'll arrange payment - less your deductible – for covered losses.
  • After you file your claim, you can set up your payment and communication preferences.

While balancing health and safety with our commitment to customers, we continue to innovate and leverage technology by offering virtual claim handling.

Recovery and Rebuilding

If you do have to make repairs, consider improved building materials, including an impact resistant roof, which could qualify for insurance premium discounts.

Those actions are shared in our first-ever annual report detailing our progress in environmental, social, and governance areas. One example is how in 2020, our national and local philanthropic giving totaled nearly $57 million—with more than $16 million supporting pandemic relief. State Farm invested an additional $10 million in minority and women small business owners in the Company’s home state of Illinois.

And—because cleaner air helps make a better world—State Farm is committing to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 50 percent by the end of 2030.

We have renewable or carbon-free power purchase agreements for several of our main employee campuses and we’re actively exploring sustainable solutions for fleet vehicles, energy efficiency capital projects, green natural gas – plus how to engage employees individually toward this target.

This step is just the first in our continuing efforts to being good stewards of the neighborhoods we serve.

Download the 2020 ESG Highlights infographic

Initially, State Farm will focus its efforts on reducing two types of emissions:

• Direct GHG emissions, such as those from company facilities and vehicles (Scope 1 emissions)
• Indirect GHG emissions, such as those from the generation of electricity supplied to the Company (Scope 2 emissions)

“As a company, our mission is to help people manage the risks of everyday life, recover from the unexpected, and realize their dreams,” said State Farm Chairman, President & CEO Michael Tipsord. “We also believe we have a responsibility to promote, influence, and engage in environmentally sustainable behaviors on behalf of our current and future customers and associates.”

This 50-percent reduction goal aligns with the Science-Based Target initiative (SBTi) goal of keeping global temperature rise below 1.5 degrees Celsius by 2050.

State Farm is currently working with a third party to validate its GHG assessment and obtain Independent Assurance Statements for 2019 and 2020 GHG baseline data.

State Farm has already made progress toward this goal, with recent facility efficiency measures detailed in its ESG report along with a recently-finalized renewable power purchase commitment for its Richardson, Texas office and data center facilities.

State Farm is also exploring sustainable solutions for fleet vehicles, energy efficiency capital projects, virtual power purchase agreements, and green natural gas.

This ESG report, the first of its kind in the Company’s history, summarizes 2020 State Farm work in the areas of environmental sustainability, social impact, and responsible governance of company operations.

“For nearly one hundred years, State Farm has functioned on the belief that being a good neighbor means being good stewards of the neighborhoods we serve,” said State Farm Chairman, President & CEO Michael Tipsord. “We want to help make a better world by building resilient futures, empowering good neighbors, and protecting what matters.”

Highlights of the new report include:

• Increased energy efficiency: More than 80% of State Farm facilities have an Energy Star Score of 75 or higher.
• $100 million committed in support for minority communities for issues of racial equity and justice over the next 5 years.
• 98,000 hours of employee & agent volunteering, which generated $647,500 in related grant funding
• Evolving workforce demographics: women comprise 57% of employees and 37% of executive roles. Minorities hold 24% of executive roles.

To accompany this report on 2020 activity, State Farm is also announcing a new environmental commitment to reduce its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 50% by the end of 2030.

State Farm is the largest auto and homeowner insurance provider in the U.S., with more than 85 million policies and accounts.

Download the 2020 ESG Highlights infographic

State Farm also experienced growth in other lines of business, and the State Farm life insurance companies paid out nearly $600 million in dividends to policyholders and ended 2020 with nearly a trillion dollars of individual life insurance in force. As the number one Auto and Homeowners insurer in the U.S. and a leader in individual life insurance, State Farm is committed to serving its policyholders and remains a strong choice for insurance and financial services needs.

“We strive to help more people in more ways. In an unprecedented year like 2020, we focus on our core mission to help people manage the risks of everyday life, recover from the unexpected, and realize their dreams,” said Senior Vice President, Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer Jon Farney. “The Good Neighbor Relief Program is a testament of our commitment to our policyholders and communities. Whether premium relief, dividends to State Farm Mutual auto customers, payment flexibility or philanthropic efforts in the communities we live and work, we're focused on relief and recovery efforts.”

The State Farm P-C group of companies reported earned premium of $65.1 billion, a combined underwriting gain of $1.9 billion, and paid $1.9 billion in dividends to policyholders. This result compared to an underwriting gain of $777 million on earned premium of $64.8 billion in 2019. The 2020 underwriting results reflect lower auto lines incurred claims offset by returns of value to customers in the form of lower premiums, along with an increase in homeowners incurred claims. The increase in homeowners incurred claims during 2020 was due to significant catastrophe activity across the country. The 2020 underwriting gain, combined with dividends to policyholders, and investment and other income of $4.6 billion, resulted in a P-C pre-tax operating gain of $4.5 billion, which was $1.2 billion lower than 2019. Total revenue, which includes premium revenue, earned investment income and realized capital gains (losses) was $78.9 billion for 2020 compared to $79.4 billion for 2019. State Farm reported net income of $3.7 billion in 2020 compared to $5.6 billion of net income in 2019. The net worth for the State Farm group ended the year at $126.1 billion compared with $116.2 billion at year-end 2019. The change includes a significant increase in the value of the P-C companies’ unaffiliated stock portfolio, driven by increases in the U.S. equities market.

The State Farm insurance operations consist of eleven P-C companies and two life companies, each of which is managed on an individual affiliate level. The P-C companies are primarily engaged in automobile, health, homeowners, commercial multiple peril (CMP) and reinsurance lines of business. The life companies are primarily engaged in individual life insurance and annuity business. The State Farm group makes third party mutual funds and third party banking products available through affiliated State Farm companies that act as intermediaries between the third parties and State Farm customers. State Farm provides insurance and financial services products across over 84 million policies and accounts.

Auto – The State Farm auto insurance business represented 62 percent of the P-C companies’ combined net written premium. Earned premium was $41.3 billion. Incurred claims and loss adjustment expenses were $27.6 billion and all other underwriting expenses totaled $10.1 billion. The underwriting gain was $3.5 billion and dividends to policyholders totaled $1.9 billion.

Comparable 2019 figures were: earned premium, $41.5 billion; incurred claims and loss adjustment expenses, $32.0 billion; all other underwriting expenses, $10.3 billion; underwriting loss, $764 million.

Homeowners, CMP, Other – The net written premium for the remainder of the State Farm P-C business represented 36 percent of the P-C companies’ combined net written premium. Earned premium was $22.9 billion. Incurred claims and loss adjustment expenses were $18.6 billion and all other underwriting expenses totaled $5.9 billion. The underwriting loss was $1.6 billion.

Comparable 2019 figures were: earned premium, $22.4 billion; incurred claims and loss adjustment expenses, $14.8 billion; all other underwriting expenses, $5.6 billion; underwriting gain, $2.0 billion.

Health – The individual health insurance operations for State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company reported an underwriting loss of $24 million, excluding the change in the premium deficiency reserve. Net written premium was $710 million.

Comparable figures for 2019 were: underwriting loss, $66 million; net written premium, $707 million.

Life – In 2020, State Farm Life Insurance Company and State Farm Life and Accident Assurance Company reported premium income of $5.5 billion and $584 million in dividends to policyholders. Net income for 2020 was $339 million. There was $994 billion in individual life insurance in force at the end of 2020. 

Comparable 2019 figures were: premium income, $5.5 billion; dividends to policyholders, $578 million; net income, $673 million; individual life insurance in force, $945 billion.

Investment Planning Services – Total assets under management for the Investment Planning Services operation at the end of 2020 were $13.9 billion. State Farm VP Management Corp. and State Farm Investment Management Corp. reported a combined net loss of $33 million in 2020.

Comparable figures for 2019 were: total assets under management, $12.7 billion; net loss, $22 million.

GAINSCO, Inc. – On Dec. 31, State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company acquired GAINSCO, Inc. The insurance operations for GAINSCO, Inc. are excluded from the reported results for the State Farm P-C group of companies in this release. In 2020, total revenue was $335 million, net income was $5 million and total assets totaled $421 million.

Although financial information is presented on a group/line of business basis, State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company and each of its affiliates must meet solvency and regulatory requirements on an individual entity-by-entity basis without regard to the solvency or financial condition of any other affiliated entity.

Securities distributed by State Farm VP Management Corp.

State Farm VP Management Corp. is a separate entity from those State Farm entities which provide banking and insurance products. Neither State Farm nor its agents provide investment, tax, or legal advice.

Download the 2020 By the Numbers infographic.  

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At some point in our lives, we’ve all felt like we didn’t belong. For people who have moved to the United States from another country, that feeling can last more than a moment.

Six in 10 Americans (58%) say the U.S. feels very divided today and more than 40% of Americans feel that their trust in other people is worse because of the pandemic.*

Belonging Begins With Us is a PSA from the Love Has No Labels campaign to encourage everyone to foster a more welcoming community. This new work features exclusive new music from Lake Street Dive, covering Joe South's 1968 hit "Walk a Mile in My Shoes." Lake Street Dive appears courtesy of Nonesuch Records.

Our communities are stronger when we make connections across our differences. We make communities better when we are good neighbors.

State Farm^® is a Love Has No Labels brand partner. We provide support by promoting content across our channels. In addition to funding the campaign, we show support during the year through online and offline activations. These include social messaging, custom content creation and employee engagement events.

*Source: More in Common, September 2020

Six in 10 Americans (58%) say the U.S. feels very divided today and more than 40% of Americans feel that their trust in other people is worse because of the pandemic.*

Belonging Begins With Us is a PSA from the Love Has No Labels campaign to encourage everyone to foster a more welcoming community. This new work features exclusive new music from Lake Street Dive, covering Joe South's 1968 hit "Walk a Mile in My Shoes." Lake Street Dive appears courtesy of Nonesuch Records.

Our communities are stronger when we make connections across our differences. We make communities better when we are good neighbors.

State Farm^® is a Love Has No Labels brand partner. We provide support by promoting content across our channels. In addition to funding the campaign, we show support during the year through online and offline activations. These include social messaging, custom content creation and employee engagement events.

*Source: More in Common, September 2020

Brynn, 15, had just begun the driver’s education course at her high school to get her learner's permit. Then the pandemic forced students into remote learning in March.

It was one of many obstacles Brynn and students just like her suddenly had to navigate.

The course was adjusted to be completed remotely. However, departments of motor vehicles across the country altered their policies and availability to services. Driving schools were forced to close. Young drivers turned to their parents and family members.

“I’m apprehensive about driving,” Brynn said. “I’ve had some bad experiences and been in a couple of accidents. Driving terrifies me.”

In addition to being a passenger in a vehicle during a minor crash, a distracted teen driver crashed into her middle school bus. The school bus driver veered to avoid the collision causing the bus to roll onto its side.

“Nobody was seriously hurt,” Brynn’s mother Noel Payne said. “But those things are scarring. And now she’s not very excited because driving is stressful for her.”

Her apprehension is not unwarranted. National Teen Driver Safety Week (Oct. 18-24) is a time to remind teens of the need to remain focused behind the wheel. Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for teens (15-18 years old) in the United States - ahead of all other types of injury, disease, or violence.

Because of the pandemic, more parents are teaching their children how to drive, while at the same time we are all driving fewer miles. Additionally, the distractions have changed. Parents didn’t have smart phones when they were teens.

In July 2020, State Farm surveyed teens (16-19 year-old drivers) to examine their attitudes and behaviors regarding the use of smartphones while driving. The survey revealed nearly nine out of 10 said they engage in at least one cellphone behavior while driving. Two-thirds of teens said they program a navigation app while driving. Just under half said they read text messages or talk on a hand-held phone when behind the wheel.

Parents may also be influencing their teenage children. Teens who said their parents use cellphones while driving were significantly more likely to engage in each phone activity.

“Putting the cell phone away is a conversation we have every time we are in the car and it’s a rule we’ve agreed upon,” Noel said. “There are so many distractions built into driving, she doesn’t need her cell phone to be one of them.”

Brynn knows she needs to remain focused on all the intricacies of learning. Especially understanding all the responsibilities of getting behind the wheel.

“I am not so worried about hitting someone. I feel like I am careful and understand the risks of driving and what I am doing,” Brynn said. “It is hard to focus on everything happening around you – what’s in front of you, what is behind you and alongside you or wherever anything else is coming from.

“I can control some of that,” Brynn said, “But I have no control over what other drivers are doing while they are behind the wheel. I’ve seen what can happen and that is scary.”

“Fight the Virus. Fight the Bias.” is an extension of the iconic Love Has No Labels campaign. The film challenges viewers to join the fight in stopping the spread of racism and discrimination against the API community. It highlights the personal stories and resilience of diverse individuals from the API community. Many have personally experienced heightened discrimination and/or harassment throughout the pandemic.

“At a time when hateful rhetoric and racially-fueled discrimination are plaguing the API community, it’s critical that we all play a role in dispelling the racist misconceptions and actions pervading our country,” said Ad Council President and CEO Lisa Sherman. “We hope this film will inspire Americans to rethink their biases and help put an end to the wave of racism facing the API community.”

State Farm^® is a Love Has No Labels brand partner. We provide support by promoting content across our channels. In addition to funding the campaign, we show support during the year through online and offline activations. These include social messaging, custom content creation and employee engagement events.

Learn more about the movement at lovehasnolabels.com/fightvirusbias. 

*Numbers are regularly updated at StopAAPIHate.com.

The spot builds on the campaign’s longstanding effort to address bias. It holds a mirror to the simple acts of freedom often celebrated and taken for granted by non-Black Americans. It then reveals the stark contrast of those freedoms to the systemic racism and injustice many Black people endure.

The campaign encourages viewers to come together for racial justice. It also directs to lovehasnolabels.com for educational and actionable resources to help continue the work toward equality.

“The campaign’s message is very simple yet profound: we all have a role to play in dismantling systemic racism in this country,” said Lisa Sherman, president & CEO of the Ad Council. “It’s time for Americans to listen, learn and act. While we know these long-simmering problems are nothing new, we want to leverage this moment in time, a national reckoning with race, and inspire change.”

State Farm^® is a brand partner for Love Has No Labels. Brand partners provide support by promoting content across our channels. In addition to funding the campaign, we show support during the year through online and offline activations. These include social messaging, custom content creation and employee engagement events.

Join the conversation on Yammer!

Imagine waking up and seeing a person in head-to-toe scrubs, face shield, mask, pants tucked into boots, and having no recollection of what happened or how you got to the hospital. And all during the COVID-19 pandemic.

That was Michelle Beedle’s reality recently. She started having seizures around age 40, but it had been about two years since her last episode. She mistakenly thought she was in the clear. Michelle lives alone, but luckily when this seizure occurred, she was on a call with her colleague, Bre Martin.

The two have worked together for almost a year as administrative assistants in Agency Services. The friendship and camaraderie could easily be heard between the two.

“Bre Martin is my Yoda. She's my go-to girl. Bre knows where to find the answer. She's the most experienced on our team. She holds all that knowledge and doesn't mind sharing it,” Michelle said.

Their team has a daily morning call, and afterward, Michelle pinged Bre asking to get on an individual call because she wasn’t feeling well.

“Michelle called me and I started rambling, and then all the sudden I could tell the headset had fallen and there was a rumbling. I know she has cats so maybe, I thought, she had gotten up to get one of them,” Bre explained. “I remember saying ‘Michelle, Michelle?’ And she wasn't answering. It dawned on me that she probably had a seizure. She'd been vocal about the seizure she had a couple years ago. I was afraid she had fallen and hit her head.”

So Bre called 911 on her cell phone while continuing to stay on the Skype call with Michelle. Luckily, Michelle had the idea to gather all their team members’ addresses a short time before her incident, so Bre knew where to send the ambulance when she called.

Since Bre knew Michelle’s history with seizures she was able to provide that important information to the dispatcher.

“I stayed on the Skype call and I stayed on with the dispatcher. I heard the knock on the door from the paramedics, then I heard her speak. It was the first I had heard her speak in about 10 minutes. She said ‘hello, who is it?’ She sounded disoriented.

“I was so grateful I was on the call with her.”

Their manager reported the incident to HR so Michelle’s emergency contact would be notified.

Michelle has no recollection of the event, but was light-hearted about it.

“Most important lesson is even if you're sheltering at home, it might be a good idea to put your clothes on every day. I was in a nightgown. I since have put my clothes on every day,” she said with a laugh.

“The hospital staff was so kind and so nice. I wasn't there for COVID or anything like that. It's the people observing it and taking care of you who get the brunt of the seizure and it's scary.”

Both Michelle and Bre said communication is key during this time.

“I've been trying to check in with everyone a little more frequently. If I hadn't been on the phone with Michelle we wouldn't have known. Who knows how long she could have been laying there?” Bre said.

That was Michelle Beedle’s reality recently. She started having seizures around age 40, but it had been about two years since her last episode. She mistakenly thought she was in the clear. Michelle lives alone, but luckily when this seizure occurred, she was on a call with her colleague, Bre Martin.

The two have worked together for almost a year as administrative assistants at State Farm^®:. The friendship and camaraderie could easily be heard between the two.

“Bre Martin is my Yoda. She's my go-to girl. Bre knows where to find the answer. She's the most experienced on our team. She holds all that knowledge and doesn't mind sharing it,” Michelle said.

Their team has a daily morning call, and afterward, Michelle pinged Bre asking to get on an individual call because she wasn’t feeling well.

“Michelle called me and I started rambling, and then all the sudden I could tell the headset had fallen and there was a rumbling. I know she has cats so maybe, I thought, she had gotten up to get one of them,” Bre explained. “I remember saying ‘Michelle, Michelle?’ And she wasn't answering. It dawned on me that she probably had a seizure. She'd been vocal about the seizure she had a couple years ago. I was afraid she had fallen and hit her head.”

So Bre called 911 on her cell phone while continuing to stay on the Skype call with Michelle. Luckily, Michelle had the idea to gather all their team members’ addresses a short time before her incident, so Bre knew where to send the ambulance when she called.

Since Bre knew Michelle’s history with seizures she was able to provide that important information to the dispatcher.

“I stayed on the Skype call and I stayed on with the dispatcher. I heard the knock on the door from the paramedics, then I heard her speak. It was the first I had heard her speak in about 10 minutes. She said ‘hello, who is it?’ She sounded disoriented.

“I was so grateful I was on the call with her.”

Their manager reported the incident to HR so Michelle’s emergency contact would be notified.

Michelle has no recollection of the event, but was light-hearted about it.

“Most important lesson is even if you're sheltering at home, it might be a good idea to put your clothes on every day. I was in a nightgown. I since have put my clothes on every day,” she said with a laugh.

“The hospital staff was so kind and so nice. I wasn't there for COVID or anything like that. It's the people observing it and taking care of you who get the brunt of the seizure and it's scary.”

Both Michelle and Bre said communication is key during this time.

“I've been trying to check in with everyone a little more frequently. If I hadn't been on the phone with Michelle we wouldn't have known. Who knows how long she could have been laying there?” Bre said.

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.

In the News:

• WGLT:  State Farm to Fund Load Programs for NonProfits (04/21/20) 

As a way to express solidarity and thanks to these critical front-line workers, instead of our signature red, we're shining blue.

The lights are part of a nationwide effort to show support. Our Marina Heights hub in Arizona was the first to “Light it Blue” in response to a call by Governor Ducey. We’ve since extended the visible salute to the Corporate Headquarters in Bloomington, Illinois, Park Center hub in Atlanta, and CityLine hub in Dallas. The lights will be lit from dusk to dawn for the next several weeks.

“We want all on the frontlines of this crisis to know how much we care about them,” said Jenny Greminger, Vice President – Administrative Services. "We appreciate their sacrifices to keep us safe and healthy."

Blue light represents calm, faith, trust and helps elevate mood. We hope when essential workers – and others in the community - see the lights they feel uplifted.

In addition to the blue lighting, State Farm has donated millions to nonprofit organizations in direct support of COVID-19 relief efforts.

Food pantries have long known the impact peanut butter can have. It's a prized addition to their shelves.

For the past three years, State Farm employees have stepped up to help meet that need. In February, more than 33,500 pounds of peanut butter were donated at our hubs and operations centers. The total surpassed last year’s total by more than 10,000 pounds.

Local organizations in several locations across the country received donations in early March.

Not too long after, COVID-19 shuttered our offices and much of the country. Now, with resources scarce and more people than ever relying food banks, the peanut butter will make an even bigger impact.

Ashley Edling is the Food Panty volunteer and programs manager for the Network of Community Ministries in Dallas. It’s one of 13 agencies that received peanut butter from this year’s drive.

“Shelf stable items like peanut butter provide a lasting effect. We can distribute it to families for weeks after the initial donation," Ashley said.

Some of the Atlanta Hub employees’ donation went to Georgia State University’s food pantry. Many in the university’s student population face unique challenges including food insecurity. There State Farm LIFT Scholars, who receive scholarship support from State Farm, helped stock the pantry’s shelves.

“Philanthropy can have an amplifying effect. The peanut butter donation allowed our LIFT Scholars to give back and support others facing difficult circumstances,” said Heath Wood, Senior Director Corporate and Foundation Relations, Georgia State University.

“It showed them the resources, education, and attitude necessary to succeed in the face of the challenges they’ll face in life.”

Peanut Butter Drive Highlights:

• Phoenix Hub employees collected 10,526 pounds of peanut butter. It was donated to Midwest Food Bank, United Food Bank and St. Mary’s Food Bank.
• Atlanta employees collected and donated 7,255 pounds of peanut butter. It went to the Midwest Food Bank of Georgia and the Georgia State University Panther Pantry.
• Employees from the Bloomington campus collected 6,313 pounds of peanut butter that went to the Midwest Food Bank of Bloomington-Normal.
• In Dallas, 8,467 pounds of peanut butter was donated to the Network of Community Ministries’ food pantry and the Richland College and the UT Dallas campus food pantries.
• State Farm Operations Centers in Austin, Charlottesville, Lincoln, and Newark collected over 1,021 pounds of peanut butter for their local food banks.

Deon Joseph and Greg Owens have both spent significant amount of time on Skid Row, the notorious 50-block area of East LA.

Deon, an LAPD officer, and Greg, a State Farm^® agent, just crossed paths for the first time, but not in one of America’s most condensed homeless populations where they both volunteer. Instead, on Extreme Makeover: Home Edition (EMHE).

HGTV’s EMHE returned this February with 10 new episodes highlighting great stories, inspiring volunteers and mind-blowing home renovations for families who give back to their communities.

State Farm is teaming with EMHE in three episodes, where agents are giving their time to help these amazing families.

The season premiered on Feb. 16 with the Mosley family from Bakersfield, Calif. Jessica Mosley, a social worker and single mom of two, welcomed three additional teens who were deemed “unadoptable” into her family and home. Bakersfield agents Elizabeth Lehr and Darlene Denison and their teams helped the Mosley family update their home. Elizabeth and Darlene were both single mothers who believe in helping their communities.

On the March 22 episode, you met Pedro Juaregui, a SoCal military vet whose new mission is to help other veterans re-enter society. His family was the recipient of the home makeover.

Local agents Maritza Gonzalez and Damian Useda were compelled to volunteer their time to help the Juaregui family. Maritza’s husband is a veteran and knows firsthand the sacrifice of military families. Damian, a 23-year Army reserve veteran, served three tours in Kuwait. Both agents and their teams helped give the military family the home of their dreams.

Don’t forget to tune into HGTV on April 5 at 9 p.m. ET to catch Greg volunteering with his State Farm team. Not only is he an agent but also a neighbor and a chaplain who has long volunteered to help the homeless of Skid Row.

The new 10-episode season of EMHE features new host Jesse Tyler Ferguson and guests including: Anthony Anderson, Derek Hough, Ty Pennington, LeAnn Rimes, OWN’s Laila Ali, Food Network’s Tyler Florence and HGTV stars David Bromstad, Tamara Day, Tarek El Moussa and Jasmine Roth.

Join the conversation on Yammer!

Editor’s Note: In our current reality of social distancing, seeing photos of people shoulder to shoulder is a bit jarring. The episodes described in this story were filmed well before the COVID-19 pandemic surfaced. State Farm and its associates continue to do good in these trying times, just as we always have.

Deon Joseph and Greg Owens have both spent significant amount of time on Skid Row, the notorious 50-block area of East LA.

Deon, an LAPD officer, and Greg, a State Farm^® agent, just crossed paths for the first time, but not in one of America’s most condensed homeless populations where they both volunteer. Instead, on Extreme Makeover: Home Edition (EMHE).

HGTV’s EMHE returned this February with 10 new episodes highlighting great stories, inspiring volunteers and mind-blowing home renovations for families who give back to their communities.

State Farm is teaming with EMHE in three episodes, where agents are giving their time to help these amazing families.

The season premiered on Feb. 16 with the Mosley family from Bakersfield, Calif. Jessica Mosley, a social worker and single mom of two, welcomed three additional teens who were deemed “unadoptable” into her family and home. Bakersfield agents Elizabeth Lehr and Darlene Denison and their teams helped the Mosley family update their home. Elizabeth and Darlene were both single mothers who believe in helping their communities.

On the March 22 episode, you met Pedro Juaregui, a SoCal military vet whose new mission is to help other veterans re-enter society. His family was the recipient of the home makeover.

Local agents Maritza Gonzalez and Damian Useda were compelled to volunteer their time to help the Juaregui family. Maritza’s husband is a veteran and knows firsthand the sacrifice of military families. Damian, a 23-year Army reserve veteran, served three tours in Kuwait. Both agents and their teams helped give the military family the home of their dreams.

Don’t forget to tune into HGTV on April 5 at 9 p.m. ET to catch Greg volunteering with his State Farm team. Not only is he an agent but also a neighbor and a chaplain who has long volunteered to help the homeless of Skid Row.

The new 10-episode season of EMHE features new host Jesse Tyler Ferguson and guests including: Anthony Anderson, Derek Hough, Ty Pennington, LeAnn Rimes, OWN’s Laila Ali, Food Network’s Tyler Florence and HGTV stars David Bromstad, Tamara Day, Tarek El Moussa and Jasmine Roth.

UPDATE: Due to an overwhelming response, State Farm has just doubled our commitment and will now be matching donations made at redcross.org/statefarm up to $200,000!

Catch clips on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon YouTube channel.

Since 1954, millions of Americans have tuned in to watch the longest running late night program in television history, The Tonight Show. Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, host Jimmy Fallon has been filming special “at home” editions of the Tonight Show where he (virtually) interviews guests, hosts “live” musical performances, and tries to keep his two young daughters from jumping on camera and stealing the show!

On last night’s show, Jimmy Fallon announced that for the week of March 30, State Farm will match any donation up to $100,000 made to the Red Cross. To make a donation visit http://redcross.org/statefarm. For those of you who were looking for ways to help, this is a good way to double the difference you make.

This week, our neighbors @StateFarm are matching donations made to the American Red Cross, up to $100,000! Use the link https://t.co/UAOCaU8YHD to donate – created with @StateFarm pic.twitter.com/9EcTZg80c0

— The Tonight Show (@FallonTonight) March 31, 2020

“We lived a couple hours away, and having a place for the whole family to stay nearby for free was a tremendous blessing,” he said. “It’s something else you didn’t have to worry about. It gives you a home base, a place to get a decent night’s rest and provides some sense of normalcy so a family can focus on the health of their child.”

Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) offer home environments with Ronald McDonald Houses, family rooms in hospitals for families to rest, mobile health care and grants. Volunteers bring food in or cook for the families staying at the houses, and often play games with the kids and talk to the parents.

Fast-forward 20 years, and Jason had an opportunity to pay it forward to RMHC. Peoria, Ill., about 45 minutes from Bloomington, is home to a new Ronald McDonald House, and Jason and his team volunteered to help put the finishing touches on several rooms recently.

Brian Barron, also a State Farm IT Analyst, got involved with the new Ronald McDonald House through a friend. As a volunteer firefighter, he helped gather patches from 95 different police and fire departments for a special first responder room.

“When we were there, I realized how grateful I am for how healthy my family can be. You’re helping other families focus on their child, not to mention it’s a great organization,” Brian said.

The Peoria house will serve 700 families a year, and those families will never pay a thing. The first family to stay in the Peoria house was from Bloomington.

Jason remembers moving from Utah to Illinois and being disappointed there wasn’t a RMHC nearby.

“Having a daughter that sick, we looked to see what the hospitals were in the area. It was top of mind. Hearing that Peoria was getting a Ronald McDonald House and that we were going to help out was priceless,” Jason said. “Just walking into the building in Peoria gave me pause to count my blessings. Making some furniture and setting rooms up for people was great because I have some understanding of what they’re going through and what this is going to mean to them. It’s not something you can put a price on.”

It also gave Jason an opportunity to talk to his now 20-year-old daughter about the experience.

“It gave me a chance to have a conversation with my daughter about some of those things that time has dulled. This experience sharpened my memory of what other people did for me that I could not do for myself.”

Join the conversation on Yammer!

Twenty years ago, a month-old baby girl was life-flighted to Primary Children’s Hospital in Salt Lake City, Utah. She had a congenital defect called a vascular ring – two aorta veins formed during gestation that encircled her trachea and esophagus – basically strangling her. Her father, Jason Heiner, IT GRC Analyst in Bloomington; her mother; and her three siblings stayed at the Ronald McDonald House in Salt Lake City during her month-long stay for surgery and recovery.

“We lived a couple hours away, and having a place for the whole family to stay nearby for free was a tremendous blessing,” he said. “It’s something else you didn’t have to worry about. It gives you a home base, a place to get a decent night’s rest and provides some sense of normalcy so a family can focus on the health of their child.”

Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) offer home environments with Ronald McDonald Houses, family rooms in hospitals for families to rest, mobile health care and grants. Volunteers bring food in or cook for the families staying at the houses, and often play games with the kids and talk to the parents.

Fast-forward 20 years, and Jason had an opportunity to pay it forward to RMHC. Peoria, Ill., about 45 minutes from Bloomington, is home to a new Ronald McDonald House, and Jason and his team volunteered to help put the finishing touches on several rooms recently.

Brian Barron, IT GRC Analyst, got involved with the new Ronald McDonald House through a friend. As a volunteer firefighter, he helped gather patches from 95 different police and fire departments for a special first responder room.

“When we were there, I realized how grateful I am for how healthy my family can be. You’re helping other families focus on their child, not to mention it’s a great organization,” Brian said.

The Peoria house will serve 700 families a year, and those families will never pay a thing. The first family to stay in the Peoria house was from Bloomington.

Jason remembers moving from Utah to Illinois and being disappointed there wasn’t a RMHC nearby.

“Having a daughter that sick, we looked to see what the hospitals were in the area. It was top of mind. Hearing that Peoria was getting a Ronald McDonald House and that we were going to help out was priceless,” Jason said. “Just walking into the building in Peoria gave me pause to count my blessings. Making some furniture and setting rooms up for people was great because I have some understanding of what they’re going through and what this is going to mean to them. It’s not something you can put a price on.”

It also gave Jason an opportunity to talk to his now 20-year-old daughter about the experience.

“It gave me a chance to have a conversation with my daughter about some of those things that time has dulled. This experience sharpened my memory of what other people did for me that I could not do for myself.”

State Farm, America’s largest property and casualty insurance provider, and U.S. Bank, the country’s fifth largest commercial bank, today announced a strategic alliance whereby U.S. Bank will assume State Farm Bank’s existing deposit and credit card accounts and State Farm agents will have the unique opportunity and tools to introduce U.S. Bank deposit products and co-branded credit cards to State Farm customers. This alliance will benefit State Farm customers, offering them new, easy ways to manage their banking needs.

The alliance is part of a broader strategy by State Farm to exit banking operations. In addition to assuming State Farm Bank’s existing deposit and credit card accounts, the two companies are exploring working together to provide State Farm customers with access to vehicle loans and business banking products.

“State Farm has been committed to helping people for nearly 98 years. U.S. Bank is an outstanding institution that shares our commitment to strong customer relationships,” said State Farm President and CEO Michael Tipsord. “When we combine State Farm’s deep customer relationships with the scale and capabilities of companies like U.S. Bank, we can help significantly more people.”

The transition of deposit and credit card accounts is scheduled to begin after closing, subject to regulatory approval, later this year and into 2021. Current State Farm Bank customers do not need to take any action.

“We are excited about this new alliance with State Farm because it will help us reach more customers in the moments that matter most,” said Andy Cecere, chairman, president and CEO of U.S. Bank. “It is a terrific opportunity to combine U.S. Bank products, services and digital capabilities with State Farm’s coast-to-coast network of agents. This relationship will provide State Farm customers with enhanced product options while expanding U.S. Bank’s reach into new and existing markets.”

State Farm and its affiliates are the largest providers of auto and home insurance in the United States with nearly 19,000 agents serving approximately 84 million policies and accounts.

Barclays Capital Inc. advised State Farm in connection with this transaction.

“Our focus of putting customers first for nearly 98 years continues to underscore our position as the national leader in protecting people. Each year we help millions of our customers recover from the unexpected and live life confidently with the protection we provide,” said Senior Vice President, Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer Jon Farney. “Our financial strength, along with our local presence and broad product offerings have earned us the loyalty of our customers and are the reasons more customers are choosing State Farm. Our agents, their teams and our employees are committed to providing customers and communities with the products and service they expect from their Good Neighbor.”

The State Farm P-C group of companies reported a combined underwriting gain of $777 million in 2019 on earned premium of $64.8 billion, compared to an underwriting gain of $1.7 billion on earned premium of $65.2 billion in 2018. The 2019 underwriting gain, combined with investment and other income of $5.0 billion, resulted in a P-C pre-tax operating gain of $5.7 billion. The lower underwriting gain in 2019 was driven by higher losses and lower earned premium compared to 2018. Total revenue, which includes premium revenue, earned investment income and realized capital gains (losses) was

$79.4 billion for 2019 compared to $81.7 billion for 2018. State Farm reported net income of $5.6 billion in 2019, compared to $8.8 billion of net income in 2018. The net worth for the State Farm group ended the year at $116.2 billion compared with $100.9 billion at year-end 2018. The change was primarily due to an increase in the value of the P-C companies’ unaffiliated stock portfolio, driven by increases in the U.S. equities market.

The State Farm insurance operations consist of eleven P-C companies and two life companies, each of which is managed on an individual affiliate level. The P-C companies are primarily engaged in automobile, health, homeowners, commercial multiple peril (CMP) and reinsurance lines of business. The life companies are primarily engaged in individual life insurance and annuity business. The State Farm group also provides banking products and makes mutual funds available through affiliated companies. State Farm provides insurance and financial services products across nearly 84 million policies and accounts.

Auto – The State Farm auto insurance business represented 64 percent of the P-C companies’ combined net written premium. Earned premium was $41.5 billion. Incurred claims and loss adjustment expenses were $32.0 billion and all other underwriting expenses totaled $10.3 billion. The underwriting loss was

$764 million.

Comparable 2018 figures were: earned premium, $42.7 billion; incurred claims and loss adjustment expenses, $31.2 billion; all other underwriting expenses, $10.4 billion; underwriting gain, $1.1 billion.

Homeowners, CMP, Other – The net written premium for the remainder of the State Farm P-C business represented 35 percent of the P-C companies’ combined net written premium. Earned premium was $22.4 billion. Incurred claims and loss adjustment expenses were $14.8 billion and all other underwriting expenses totaled $5.6 billion. The underwriting gain was $2.0 billion.

Comparable 2018 figures were: earned premium, $21.6 billion; incurred claims and loss adjustment expenses, $15.0 billion; all other underwriting expenses, $5.7 billion; underwriting gain, $928 million.

Health – The individual health insurance operations for State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company reported an underwriting loss of $66 million, excluding the change in the premium deficiency reserve. Net written premium was $707 million.

Comparable figures for 2018 were: underwriting loss, $91 million; net written premium, $703 million.

Life – In 2019, State Farm Life Insurance Company and State Farm Life and Accident Assurance Company reported premium income of $5.5 billion and $578 million in dividends to policyholders. Net income for 2019 was $673 million. There was $959 billion in total life insurance in force at the end of 2019.

Comparable 2018 figures were: premium income, $5.4 billion; dividends to policyholders, $577 million; net income, $706 million; total life insurance in force, $927 billion.

State Farm Bank® – Net income in 2019 was $59 million and total assets for State Farm Bank, F.S.B. were $16.4 billion as of year-end 2019.

Comparable figures for 2018 were: net income, $35 million; total assets, $16.9 billion.

Investment Planning Services – Total assets under management for the Investment Planning Services operation at the end of 2019 were $12.7 billion. State Farm VP Management Corp. and State Farm Investment Management Corp. reported a combined net loss of $22 million in 2019.

Comparable figures for 2018 were: total assets under management, $11.2 billion; net income, $7 million.

Although financial information is presented on a group/line of business basis, State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company and each of its affiliates must meet solvency and regulatory requirements on an individual entity-by-entity basis without regard to the solvency or financial condition of any other affiliated entity.

State Farm Bank, Bloomington, Illinois, is a Member FDIC and an Equal Housing Lender. Insurance and securities products offered by affiliated companies of State Farm Bank are not FDIC insured, are not guaranteed by State Farm Bank and are subject to investment risk, including possible loss of principal invested.

Securities distributed by State Farm VP Management Corp.

State Farm VP Management Corp. is a separate entity from those State Farm entities which provide banking and insurance products. Neither State Farm nor its agents provide investment, tax, or legal advice.

Download the 2019 By the Numbers infographic.  

OK, we have to immediately dive into that first one. Opioids? Yes. Consider this:

• The risks associated with negligence, fraud, deceptive marketing and over-prescription are significant.
• The opioid crisis impacts people all around the world; however, most claims come from towns, districts or municipalities, rather than individuals.
• The Society of Actuaries estimates the total economic burden of the opioid crisis in the U.S. from 2015 to 2018 was $631 billion.

This was one of several topics State Farm® and other insurers discussed at a conference of the Geneva Association – the leading international think tank of the insurance industry, which pursues “Insurance for a Better World.”

State Farm, a member the past eight years, hosted the event in late 2019, gaining insight into how international policymakers think about various regulatory matters.

"There is both inherent competition and a wide range of differing points of view within the insurance industry from a global perspective,” said Kevin Frederick, Vice President – Counsel in the Law Department. “But there are also real societal and global issues that transcend all of us, and emerging forms of risk that impact all of us.”

“Perhaps the most important takeaway for me,” he said, “has been not only learning more about differing points of view within the international industry, but also how these differing points of view are interconnected with our shared values.”

Other interesting topics:

Artificial intelligence (AI)

• AI is a rapidly evolving area that crosses all forms of business in various ways.
• As AI continues to evolve, new and emerging risks follow, with complex considerations from a legal, ethical and cultural perspective.
• A new area of research and regulation centers on why machines make the decisions they do.

Ride sharing

• As ride-sharing continues to surge in popularity, there are fragmented approaches toward regulating risk and liability across cities, states and countries.
• The ride-sharing experience from an insurance, risk and liability perspective is complex. For example, consider when and how coverage applies before, during and after a driver and passenger engage in a ride-sharing experience.
• Insurance, risk and liability are based on historical loss patterns and predictive outcomes. The ride-sharing economy lacks historical data and is continually influenced by evolving forms of technology and AI.

A State Farm customer in Atlanta recently left a pan on the stove unattended, and it caught fire. They forgot the adage and attempted to put out the fire by throwing water on it. While nobody was hurt, the damage increased.

"The result was $9,000 in insured damages to the stove, cabinets, countertops and floor," said their agent Ken Anderson, of Alpharetta, Georgia. “You should never use water to try and put out a grease fire."

It could have been worse. The average State Farm cooking/grease fire claim in the U.S. was more than $48,000 in 2018.

Georgia is the top state for cooking fire losses. Anderson has seen at least two dozen cooking-related fire claims in his 38 years as an agent. Many were made worse when oil and water mixed.

According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), cooking is the leading cause of home fires. One out of three home fires begins in the kitchen - more than any other place in the home. Unattended cooking is the number one cause of kitchen fires. NFPA data shows that Thanksgiving is the peak day for home cooking fires.

The oil and water pitfalls are not reserved to the kitchen. Last year, around Thanksgiving, one of Ken's customers attempted to fry a frozen turkey. In addition to not having thawed the bird, the customer had too much oil in the fryer. When he dropped the turkey in, the hot oil spilled over, leaving him with second degree burns and a damaged deck.

Among the advice Ken shares with customers?

“Make sure you have smoke detectors and fire extinguishers that are up to date,” he said. “And, keep a cooking or grease fire-approved fire extinguisher nearby when cooking or frying.”

It pays to follow the advice. In 2018, State Farm paid more than $118 million for nearly 2,500 cooking/grease fire homeowners* claims across the U.S.

*Note: excludes renters and condo unit claims.

Because many families and friends engage in cooking during the holidays, it is important to follow some basic safety tips:

• Always keep an eye on what you are cooking/frying. Never leave the cooking area unattended.
• Keep anything that can catch fire — oven mitts, wooden utensils, food packaging, towels or curtains — away from your stovetop.
• Keep a lid beside the pan when cooking. If a fire starts, slide the lid over the pan and turn off the burner. Never throw water on a grease fire.
• Keep a fire extinguisher approved for cooking or grease fires nearby. Make sure your smoke alarms are working.

Mouse over (or touch on mobile) the + on the interactive image below to see the safety tips.

A State Farm customer in Atlanta recently left a pan on the stove unattended, and it caught fire. They forgot the adage and attempted to put out the fire by throwing water on it. While nobody was hurt, the damage increased.

"The result was $9,000 in insured damages to the stove, cabinets, countertops and floor," said their agent Ken Anderson, of Alpharetta, Georgia. “You should never use water to try and put out a grease fire."

It could have been worse. The average State Farm cooking/grease fire claim in the U.S. was more than $48,000 in 2018.

Georgia is the top state for cooking fire losses. Anderson has seen at least two dozen cooking-related fire claims in his 38 years as an agent. Many were made worse when oil and water mixed.

According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), cooking is the leading cause of home fires. One out of three home fires begins in the kitchen - more than any other place in the home. Unattended cooking is the number one cause of kitchen fires. NFPA data shows that Thanksgiving is the peak day for home cooking fires.

The oil and water pitfalls are not reserved to the kitchen. Last year, around Thanksgiving, one of Ken's customers attempted to fry a frozen turkey. In addition to not having thawed the bird, the customer had too much oil in the fryer. When he dropped the turkey in, the hot oil spilled over, leaving him with second degree burns and a damaged deck.

Among the advice Ken shares with customers?

“Make sure you have smoke detectors and fire extinguishers that are up to date,” he said. “And, keep a cooking or grease fire-approved fire extinguisher nearby when cooking or frying.”

It pays to follow the advice. In 2018, State Farm paid more than $118 million for nearly 2,500 cooking/grease fire homeowners* claims across the U.S.

*Note: excludes renters and condo unit claims.

Because many families and friends engage in cooking during the holidays, it is important to follow some basic safety tips:

• Always keep an eye on what you are cooking/frying. Never leave the cooking area unattended.
• Keep anything that can catch fire — oven mitts, wooden utensils, food packaging, towels or curtains — away from your stovetop.
• Keep a lid beside the pan when cooking. If a fire starts, slide the lid over the pan and turn off the burner. Never throw water on a grease fire.
• Keep a fire extinguisher approved for cooking or grease fires nearby. Make sure your smoke alarms are working.

Mouse over (or touch on mobile) the + on the interactive image below to see the safety tips.

United States Air Force Brigadier General Tracey Siems’ position at the company was secured three times during her 31-year military career. Tracey, an information security manager at State Farm, retired from the Air Force Nov. 1 after a robust career.

“I wanted to do something few people did,” Tracey said of deciding to attend the United States Air Force Academy. “I was in the ninth class to graduate women. That in itself was pretty groundbreaking.”

Tracey continued to make history through the Air Force, being only the third of three women to make the rank of brigadier general in the Financial Management and Comptroller career field. While serving as the finance officer during an operation in Germany in the 1990s, Tracey was in charge of providing monetary needs for fuel and landing fees for missions providing medical supplies and food to citizens when the Soviet Union was broken up into several smaller countries.

“We had 65 airlift missions to go into those countries taking medical supplies and food. We had to pay fuel and landing fees in cash, so I was responsible for getting paying agents on each plane and ensuring they had enough cash to pay for it. You don’t think of finance people as boots-on-the-ground people,” she remembered.

In her highest position as brigadier general, Tracey increased the amount of colonel positions underneath her position, “allowing more career paths all across the Air Force.”

Tracey has moved through State Farm, making improvements where she could, as well. Hired in 1998, she had the opportunity to follow a job track to become a project manager and then a security manager. Through it all, State Farm supported her during her military obligations.

“They’ve always been great about giving me time off and State Farm has always complied with the military leave laws, even going above and beyond with that,” she said.

Tracey also helped get the Military Affinity Group (MAG) approved – an Employee Resource Group for all State Farm employees. Employee Resource Groups serve as resources for employees’ growth and development. Tracey worked to get it approved, sought an executive sponsor for support and worked with a team through the year-long process. She was president of MAG for the first two years.

“It was right after 9/11 and one of my cube mates, Tim Wheeler, and I talked about forming an affinity group to support the military,” she said. “After 9/11, we knew the Reserves were going to be busier and the group would be a way to keep the relationship between the company and the military.

“We thought it would be a good way to have understanding between requirements on both sides and help State Farm understand the skillsets military personnel can bring to the company and how State Farm can leverage them.”

Tracey said the most difficult thing the last 30 years has been balancing both careers and family time.

“My husband farms, so I tried to do duty when he wasn’t planting or harvesting. That was a juggling act,” Tracey said. “If I was on military duty, I’d do State Farm work at night and vice versa. It was a constant balancing act.”

But, she’s humbly proud of what she has accomplished.

“We do it because it’s our job and what we do. We don’t step back to think about the sacrifices we’ve made.

“This year has been a good time to pause and reflect on my career and service. It is an honor to be recognized on Veterans Day.”

United States Air Force Brigadier General Tracey Siems’ position at the company was secured three times during her 31-year military career. Tracey, an information security manager at State Farm, retired from the Air Force Nov. 1 after a robust career.

“I wanted to do something few people did,” Tracey said of deciding to attend the United States Air Force Academy. “I was in the ninth class to graduate women. That in itself was pretty groundbreaking.”

Tracey continued to make history through the Air Force, being only the third of three women to make the rank of brigadier general in the Financial Management and Comptroller career field. While serving as the finance officer during an operation in Germany in the 1990s, Tracey was in charge of providing monetary needs for fuel and landing fees for missions providing medical supplies and food to citizens when the Soviet Union was broken up into several smaller countries.

“We had 65 airlift missions to go into those countries taking medical supplies and food. We had to pay fuel and landing fees in cash, so I was responsible for getting paying agents on each plane and ensuring they had enough cash to pay for it. You don’t think of finance people as boots-on-the-ground people,” she remembered.

In her highest position as brigadier general, Tracey increased the amount of colonel positions underneath her position, “allowing more career paths all across the Air Force.”

Tracey has moved through State Farm, making improvements where she could as well. Hired in 1998, she had the opportunity to follow a job track to become a project manager and then a security manager. Through it all, State Farm supported her during her military obligations.

“They’ve always been great about giving me time off and State Farm has always complied with the military leave laws, even going above and beyond with that,” she said.

Tracey also helped get the Military Affinity Group (MAG) approved – an Employee Resource Group for all State Farm employees. Employee Resource Groups serve as resources for employees’ growth and development. Tracey worked to get it approved, sought an executive sponsor for support and worked with a team through the year-long process. She was president of MAG for the first two years.

“It was right after 9/11 and one of my cube mates, Tim Wheeler, and I talked about forming an affinity group to support the military,” she said. “After 9/11, we knew the Reserves were going to be busier and the group would be a way to keep the relationship between the company and the military.

“We thought it would be a good way to have understanding between requirements on both sides and help State Farm understand the skillsets military personnel can bring to the company and how State Farm can leverage them.”

Tracey said the most difficult thing the last 30 years has been balancing both careers and family time.

“My husband farms, so I tried to do duty when he wasn’t planting or harvesting. That was a juggling act,” Tracey said. “If I was on military duty, I’d do State Farm work at night and vice versa. It was a constant balancing act.”

But, she’s humbly proud of what she has accomplished.

“We do it because it’s our job and what we do. We don’t step back to think about the sacrifices we’ve made.

“This year has been a good time to pause and reflect on my career and service. It is an honor to be recognized on Veterans Day.”

As an industry leader, safety has been at the forefront of our use of drone technology. State Farm was the first insurer to obtain an Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) waiver for commercial use. It collaborates with public sector partners like Virginia Tech’s Mid-Atlantic Aviation Partnership (MAAP).  Data and research from these types of collaborative efforts is helping to drive innovation in this rapidly changing technology.

National Drone Safety Awareness Week is Nov. 4-10, 2019. It is meant to recognize and advance the public-private partnerships and collaborations with drone technology. Each day, drone successes and accomplishments within different sectors will be highlighted.

• Monday: Public Safety and Security
• Tuesday: Business – Photography, Real Estate, Insurance
• Wednesday: Business – Infrastructure and Agriculture
• Thursday: Business – Commercial and Medical Package Delivery
• Friday: Education and STEM
• Saturday and Sunday: Recreational Flyers

National Drone Safety Awareness Week Tweets 

Learn more about the use of drones in the insurance industry.

• AUVSI (January 8, 2019) – State Farm granted first national FAA waiver to conduct UAS flights over people and BVLOS
• Drone Life (January 8, 2019) - State Farm Granted First National FAA Waiver for Damage Assessment Drone Flights
• Virginia Tech Daily (March 8, 2019) - National waiver lays out a roadmap for drone integration
• Robotics Business Review (March 15, 2019) - How State Farm Earned National Waiver for Drone Flights

“My mom is 82 years old and her smoke detector was not working,” says Barb Fowler, Normal, Ill., resident. “She’s had a stroke since we made the appointment to get it installed. Now we want to get everything in order for her to come home and recover.”

Sound the Alarm home fire safety and smoke alarm installation events are part of the Home Fire Campaign with the American Red Cross. During a recent effort in Bloomington and Normal, Ill., volunteers worked alongside fire departments and other local groups to canvass at-risk neighborhoods to install free smoke alarms, replace batteries in existing alarms, educate families about fire prevention and safety and fundraise.

State Farm^® partners with the American Red Cross for the Sound the Alarm campaign to educate community members on fire safety while providing a free smoke alarm to help keep them safe in the future. State Farm has provided charitable support to the American Red Cross and chapters throughout the country for the past 30 years, totaling more than $37 million, including investing in the Annual Disaster Giving Program.

State Farm associates volunteered at 51 events in 17 states, installing 10,718 smoke alarms and making 4,853 homes safer this year.

“The video the firefighter presented during training and interactions we had with people throughout the event made me realize how starting a fire and causing mass destruction could happen quickly. But preventing and keeping our families, friends and people in our community safe is a duty for us all,” says Smit Shah, State Farm employee and volunteer.

This year, the American Red Cross' national efforts to install free smoke alarms and educate residents on fire safety have made more than 50,000 households safer. More than 120,000 smoke alarms were installed across more than 100 at-risk communities.

Bev Kilmartin, Normal resident, saw an ad in the local newspaper about the program.

“The batteries went out on my old smoke alarms, and I realized we’d had them for at least 10 years. When I replaced the batteries, I noticed it wasn’t working correctly, so I decided to call and make an appointment,” Bev says.

“As a widow, it gives me a sense of security,” she adds. “If there is this type of program available, we should take advantage of it.”

“Everyone we encountered was friendly and appreciated us coming to assist them with this task,” says Tim Trunnell, State Farm employee and volunteer. “It was a great way to give back to the community and have fun.”

Normal resident Joe Nicklin contacted the Red Cross for an installation appointment because he knew his smoke alarm wasn’t working properly.

“When I light a fire in my fireplace and smoke gets into the house, the alarm doesn’t go off. That made me feel anxious,” he says. “I sleep with a CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) machine, so I sleep pretty soundly. I needed some peace of mind.”

“After visiting the homes and installing alarms, it makes you realize how unaware people are of the importance of smoke alarms and how these inexpensive devices can help save a precious life,” Smit says.

This is the excitement 28-year-old Daniel Lopez felt after being given the opportunity to volunteer with his company for a national crowd-sourced philanthropic program. “Like Daniel, I volunteered so I could see good things happening,” added 34-year-old Whitney Totheroh. “I knew my actions could make a positive difference for others.”

Last summer, both Lopez and Totheroh participated on a committee comprised of nearly 120 young business professionals at State Farm^® who volunteered their time to make an impact on communities across the United States. Their work was part of the State Farm Neighborhood Assist® program. Now in its eighth year, Neighborhood Assist awards 40 causes around the country with a $25,000 grant each to support education, safety and community development projects. Committee members like Lopez and Totheroh were tasked with reviewing the submissions sent in by causes.

Totheroh says the stories she read were inspiring. “Seeing the good work people are doing in their neighborhoods broadened my horizons. They are identifying problems and making the choice to make a change.”

Lopez agreed, adding the volunteer opportunity with Neighborhood Assist also helped him professionally. “Being on the review committee, I developed a stronger work ethic, better time management and gained more perspective about the world around me.”

The experiences of Neighborhood Assist Review Committee members like Totheroh and Lopez affirms a recent survey by State Farm, stating that certain factors, including showing impact and career development opportunities, can influence volunteerism among Millennials.

According to the study, 66% of Millennials surveyed reported volunteering at least once in the past 12 months. While Millennials had a higher incidence of volunteering, they did it less often than the Baby Boomer and Mature generations. Considering national trends, the findings are noteworthy. Millennials now surpass Baby Boomers as the largest generation in the United States.* As a result, they have the biggest potential to influence volunteerism.

“I feel like there are a lot of Millennials who do something for a short time, and then move on,” said Lopez. “Maybe it’s because they don’t know how their effort is paying off. For me, Neighborhood Assist was different. I got to help communities across the country by reviewing their causes, then witness which ones got grant funding. That was really rewarding.”

“It’s so important to highlight people in this world that are doing good things,” added Totheroh. “Put good out, and you get good back in.”

Echoing the feedback of young professionals like Lopez and Totheroh, the study revealed opportunities for career development and showing the impact of one’s work played key roles in motivating Millennials to volunteer.

Other factors included: 

• Getting social: More Millennials visit websites to learn about volunteering than any other generation.

• The more the merrier: Being able to participate with friends or meet new people plays a large role in a Millennials’ willingness to volunteer

• Knowledge is power: The prospect of gaining expertise in a certain area or learning a new skill, inspires more Millennials to give back.

• Opportunities nearby: Millennials agree, they’re more likely to get involved if the organization or non-profit is close to their home or job.

“It’s about finding your passion," said Totheroh. “The opportunity to learn, be with friends, and meet new people are all perks of volunteering. Sometimes I think young people may not know how, or where to start. But one thing’s for sure. For me, the best part about volunteering is knowing I helped someone else. That’s time well spent.”

The net worth for the State Farm group ended the year at $100.9 billion compared with $97.0 billion at year-end 2017. The increase was primarily due to the P-C pre-tax operating gain, which was partially offset by a decrease in the value of the P-C companies’ unaffiliated stock portfolio, driven by declines in the U.S. equities market.

“As a mutual company, we strive to achieve results that allow us to maintain the financial strength necessary to serve our customers and deliver on the promises we make to be there when the unexpected happens,” said Senior Vice President, Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer Jon Farney. “While 2018 was a profitable year for State Farm, we view our financial results over a longer period of time. Over the last three years, we have increased our financial strength even with a combined underwriting loss, all while helping millions of our customers recover from the unexpected and live life confidently with the protection that we provide. We have been able to achieve these results because we manage our business responsibly for the long-term, and our agents, their teams and our employees are committed to serving our customers and our communities.”

Total revenue, which includes premium revenue, earned investment income and realized capital gains (losses) was $81.7 billion for 2018 compared to $78.3 billion for 2017. State Farm reported net income of $8.8 billion in 2018, compared to $2.2 billion of net income in 2017. The State Farm insurance operations consist of eleven P-C companies and two life companies, each of which is managed on an individual affiliate level. The P-C companies are primarily engaged in automobile, health, homeowners, commercial multiple peril (CMP) and reinsurance lines of business. The life companies are primarily engaged in individual life insurance and annuity business. The State Farm group also provides banking products and makes mutual funds available through affiliated companies. State Farm provides insurance and financial services products across nearly 83 million policies and accounts.

Auto – The State Farm auto insurance business represented 65 percent of the P-C companies’ combined net written premium. Earned premium was $42.7 billion. Incurred claims and loss adjustment expenses were $31.2 billion and all other underwriting expenses totaled $10.4 billion. The underwriting gain was $1.1 billion.

Comparable 2017 figures were: earned premium, $41.6 billion; incurred claims and loss adjustment expenses, $34.2 billion; all other underwriting expenses, $10.2 billion; underwriting loss, $2.8 billion.

Homeowners, CMP, Other – The net written premium for State Farm’s remaining P-C business represented 34 percent of the P-C companies’ combined net written premium. Earned premium was $21.6 billion. Incurred claims and loss adjustment expenses were $15.0 billion and all other underwriting expenses totaled $5.7 billion. The underwriting gain was $928 million.

Comparable 2017 figures were: earned premium, $21.4 billion; incurred claims and loss adjustment expenses, $18.6 billion; all other underwriting expenses, $5.6 billion; underwriting loss, $2.8 billion.

Health – The individual health insurance operations for State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company reported an underwriting loss of $91 million, excluding the change in the premium deficiency reserve. Net written premium was $703 million.

Comparable figures for 2017 were: underwriting loss, $71 million; net written premium, $691 million.

Life – In 2018, State Farm Life Insurance Company and State Farm Life and Accident Assurance Company reported premium income of $5.4 billion and $577 million in dividends to policyholders. Net income for 2018 was $706 million. There was $926.7 billion in total life insurance in force at the end of 2018.

Comparable 2017 figures were: premium income, $5.3 billion; dividends to policyholders, $578 million; net income, $492 million; total life insurance in force, $901.7 billion.

State Farm Bank^® – Net income in 2018 was $35 million and total assets for State Farm Bank, F.S.B. were $16.9 billion as of year-end 2018.

Comparable figures for 2017 were: net loss, $1 million; total assets, $16.7 billion.

Investment Planning Services – Total assets under management for the Investment Planning Services operation at the end of 2018 were $10.7 billion, compared with $13.0 billion at the end of 2017. State Farm VP Management Corp. and State Farm Investment Management Corp. reported combined net income of $7 million in 2018, following net income of $5 million in 2017.

Although financial information is presented on a group/line of business basis, State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company and each of its affiliates must meet solvency and regulatory requirements on an individual entity-by-entity basis without regard to the solvency or financial condition of any other affiliated entity.

State Farm Bank, Bloomington, Illinois, is a Member FDIC and an Equal Housing Lender. Insurance and securities products offered by affiliated companies of State Farm Bank are not FDIC insured, are not guaranteed by State Farm Bank and are subject to investment risk, including possible loss of principal invested.

Securities distributed by State Farm VP Management Corp.

State Farm VP Management Corp. is a separate entity from those State Farm entities which provide banking and insurance products. Neither State Farm nor its agents provide investment, tax, or legal advice.

“Peanut butter can be expensive for food banks and food pantries to purchase yet it’s a power house of nutrition,” said, Tara Ingham, Executive Director for the Midwest Food Bank, “Especially in times of disaster relief it’s convenient, doesn’t take much preparation – and it packs a ton of nutrition.”

According to the National Peanut Board, a two tablespoon serving of the nutty spread packs seven grams of protein and more than 30 essential vitamins and minerals. With an average cost of 16 cents per serving, peanut butter makes a nutrient-rich addition to breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks.

That’s why State Farm employees across the U.S. united to help stock food pantry shelves. In less than one month, they collected more than 18,000 jars of peanut butter, totaling more than 21,000 pounds. The donations were distributed to food pantries across the country.

Catrena Smith, an Illinois employee, worked with her department to collect more than 100 jars.

“This peanut butter drive is a wonderful opportunity to contribute and give together as a team,” said Smith. “It’s amazing to know our collective effort at State Farm will help feed many.”

Looking for ways to get involved in your community? Whether it’s giving a jar of peanut butter, or giving your time to a local organization - the State Farm Neighborhood of Good® can help. Visit www.NeighborhoodofGood.com® to find causes that matter to you – right in your neighborhood.

To help children in Bloomington, Illinois, and Minnetonka, Minnesota, stay warm as they play and make winter friends, State Farm donated 10,000 hats and gloves. The company facilitated the donation through local organizations well-versed in helping children.

In Bloomington, State Farm Agent Axel Jimenez worked through the local Promise Council to coordinate the distribution of the winter wear.

The Promise Council serves 13 schools in Bloomington-Normal. The Council’s goal is to remove barriers to learning and give every student the chance to achieve success through education. One of its main pillars of focus is meeting the physical needs of students. These needs can often stand in the way of academic achievement.

“It is our responsibility to take care of the children in our community. I would want help available for my kids if I was not able to provide for them directly,” Jimenez said. “We need to pay it forward!” 

Hats & Mittens serves Minnetonka and surrounding communities in the same way. Founder Rebecca Sundquist's team raises money and collects thousands of hats and mittens for homeless children. Their work also increases awareness of smaller and emerging non-profits serving children.

“If a child sees the world as a warm and welcoming place, they can survive and thrive.” Sundquist said. “When they feel physically and emotionally cold, they can get lost in a cycle of despair. At Hats & Mittens, our mission is to warm bodies and hearts - creating a more welcoming world for kids everywhere.”

State Farm agrees. It encourages its employees and agents, like Axel, to participate in its Good Neighbor Grant and Matching Gift Programs.

The company also encourages everyone to turn caring into doing through the Neighborhood of Good. Find and volunteer for the causes that matter to you – right in your neighborhood.

Beforehand, the crowd was introduced to Lt. Cmdr. Bill Connell. They heard a little bit about his story and watched him raise the U.S. flag before the National Anthem. They applauded, placed their hands over their hearts and sang along to the Star-Spangled Banner.

Then, the fans went about watching a ballgame in America. Wearing his World War II veteran cap and his decades-old leather flight jacket, so did the 94-year-old naval aviator.

They heard a small piece of William’s story. But the entire epic episode is why monuments are built, books are written and movies are filmed.

Just before dawn on July 4, 1944, Bill, a 19-year-old pilot, and his partner took off on his first bombing mission. His assignment was to take out a radio station on the small island Chichijima several hundred miles south of Japan.

Bill’s first bombing mission was about to end. It would be his last.

Land-based, anti-aircraft fire ripped the tail of his plane away. He ejected himself from the aircraft and plummeted into the Pacific. Bill never knew for sure what happened to his partner. But he imagines.

Bill floated in those waters for almost an hour until Japanese rescue boats showed up and took him prisoner. Hell started about then. He was tied to a palm tree, hanging from his arms from sundown to sun up. Then a second tree, then a third.

“They worked me over pretty good,” Bill says.

Bill spent 15 months total as a prisoner of war, including during the bombing of Tokyo. “I spent months being questioned,” Bill says. “They were sure I knew something.”

The Marines liberated that POW camp as the war was coming to a close, and Bill was finally sent home, “hop-skipping in a four-engine plane across the Pacific for weeks,” he says. The Navy allowed him a telegram home, but limited him to four words. His words were beautiful, poignant and so very efficient: “Well Happy Flying Home.”

He finally landed in Oakland, Calif. Then it was off to his hometown of Seattle where he spent the better part of a year in the hospital recovering from his injuries.

Despite struggling with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Bill stayed true to the Navy after the war. He continued as a pilot and was stationed in Japan, Guam and finally Minneapolis. He was awarded the Purple Heart and Prisoner of War medals.

He spent the next 23 years as a State Farm^® agent in Bloomington, Minn. He has outlived two wives and all four of his children. His granddaughter, Laura, is his caretaker.

Bill has been back to Chichijima several times, including once with President George H.W. Bush, who was also shot down near the island.

Gary Gilbertson, a 30-year State Farm agent who now works in Bill’s former office, helped organize the event at the baseball game to honor Bill.

“He raised the flag in hand-over-hand fashion,” says Gary. “He was wearing his leather bomber jacket, a World War II veteran cap and they had him on the big screen for everyone to see. And he saluted the flag at the end. The whole stadium stood and applauded. It was such an awe-inspiring moment.”

“It was the thrill of a lifetime,” says Bill. “I actually did raise the flag and then they escorted me to my seat and I sat and watched the ballgame.”

Julie Chapman is another State Farm agent who was on hand to witness it.

“It was powerful,” she says. “There were grown men with tears coming down their cheeks.”

A, B, AB and O represent the major blood types. The American Red Cross kick started an innovative campaign June 11 to bring attention to blood shortages across the globe.

State Farm^®, along with many other well-known organizations, are participating in this campaign June 11-July 3 with special Missing Types logos, donations, activities and events. The events will bring awareness to blood shortages and help attract 370,000 new or lapsed blood donors.

U.S. blood donation facts and why you should consider donating

Check out this infographic to get an idea of why donating blood is so important.

Consider scheduling a blood donation appointment and help fill in the Missing Type so a patient can survive.

The pedal cars — there are 69 total — are a slice of the Bruce Callis Pedal Car Collection. Bruce was a longtime executive at State Farm. He died in 1999.

Bruce's son, Kevin Callis, daughter, Kim Ready, and grandson, Michael Ready, are all State Farm employees who helped arrange the family donation to the museum.

“We felt it was time to share them,” says Kevin. “Dad always loved to watch his grandchildren playing with the pedal cars and we have this wonderful museum right out our back door.”

The Pedal Power! exhibit is on the third floor of the McLean County Museum of History in downtown Bloomington. The child-sized autos span 50 years of pedal car production from the 1920s through the 1970s. One of the exhibit’s highlights is the original 75th Anniversary State Farm commemorative pedal car prototype.

The collection began as a way for Bruce to spend time with his grandchildren, says Kim. Bruce spent countless hours restoring pedal cars, and often with Michael's help.

“I can remember working with Papa in his garage,” says Michael, Kim’s son. “I would run and grab tools for him, and I went to the paint shop with him.”

Like street cars, the pedal cars have makes, models and manufacture years. The oldest car on display is a 1927 blue Buick made by company called Uhlen. Other early items on display include a 1929 pedal plane made of wood and a 1935 white-and-red Dodge Fire Chief produced by a company called American National.

“Dad was proud of his State Farm story,” says Kim. “The pedal cars are a family story, a community story and State Farm story.”

The net worth for the State Farm group ended the year at $97.0 billion compared with $87.6 billion at year-end 2016. The increase was primarily due to an increase in the value of the P-C companies’ unaffiliated stock portfolio. Valuation updates for deferred tax assets and liabilities determined using the corporate tax rate enacted as part of the U.S. Tax Cuts and Jobs Act also increased net worth for the group.

“In 2017, State Farm helped our customers recover from unexpected losses, including several catastrophic events. While we had operating losses for the year, we are built to handle these events and we continue to be ‘good neighbors’ and have the financial resources to be there in our customers’ time of need,“ said Senior Vice President, Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer Jon Farney. “Our employees, agents and agent team members are making significant changes and process improvements across our company to better serve our customers. We will continue becoming a leaner and stronger company in our pursuit of helping customers recover from the unexpected and being there to help life go right.”

Total revenue, which includes premium revenue, earned investment income, and realized capital gains (losses) was $78.3 billion for 2017 compared to $76.1 billion for 2016. State Farm reported net income of $2.2 billion in 2017, compared to $0.4 billion of net income in 2016. The State Farm insurance operations consist of eleven P-C companies and two life companies, each of which is managed on an individual affiliate level. The P-C companies are primarily engaged in automobile, health, homeowners, commercial multiple peril (CMP), and reinsurance lines of business. The life companies are primarily engaged in individual life insurance and annuity business. The State Farm group also provides banking products and mutual funds through affiliated companies. State Farm provides insurance and financial services products across more than 83 million policies and accounts.

Auto – The State Farm auto insurance business represented 65 percent of the P-C companies’ combined net written premium. Earned premium was $41.6 billion. Incurred claims and loss adjustment expenses were $34.2 billion and all other underwriting expenses totaled $10.2 billion. The underwriting loss was $2.8 billion.

Comparable 2016 figures were: earned premium, $38.8 billion; incurred claims and loss adjustment expenses, $35.8 billion; all other underwriting expenses, $10.0 billion; underwriting loss, $7.0 billion.

Homeowners, CMP, Other – The net written premium for State Farm’s remaining P-C business represented 33 percent of the P-C companies’ combined net written premium. Earned premium was $21.4 billion. Incurred claims and loss adjustment expenses were $18.6 billion and all other underwriting expenses totaled $5.6 billon. The underwriting loss was $2.8 billion.

Comparable 2016 figures were: earned premium, $22.1 billion; incurred claims and loss adjustment expenses, $14.4 billion; all other underwriting expenses, $5.7 billion; underwriting gain, $2.0 billion.

Health – The individual health insurance operations for State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company reported an underwriting loss of $71 million, excluding premium deficiency reserve. Net written premium was $691 million.

Comparable figures for 2016 were: underwriting loss, $84 million; net written premium, $668 million.

Life – In 2017, State Farm Life Insurance Company and State Farm Life and Accident Assurance Company reported premium income of $5.3 billion and $578 million in dividends to policyholders. Net income for 2017 was $492 million. There was $901.7 billion in total life insurance in force at the end of 2017.

Comparable 2016 figures were: premium income, $5.7 billion; dividends to policyholders, $584 million; net income, $562 million; total life insurance in force, $873.7 billion.

State Farm Bank^® – Net loss in 2017 was $1 million and total assets for State Farm Bank, F.S.B. were $16.7 billion as of year-end 2017.

Comparable figures for 2016 were: net income, $39 million; total assets, $18.3 billion.

Mutual Funds – Total assets under management for the retail Mutual Fund operations at the end of 2017 were $13.0 billion, compared with $12.2 billion at the end of 2016. State Farm VP Management Corp. and State Farm Investment Management Corp. reported combined net income of $6 million in 2017, following net income of $4 million in 2016.

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^{Although financial information is presented on a group/line of business basis, State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company and each of its affiliates must meet solvency and regulatory requirements on an individual entity-by-entity basis without regard to the solvency or financial condition of any other affiliated entity.}

^{State Farm Bank, Bloomington, Illinois, is a Member FDIC and an Equal Housing Lender. Insurance and securities products offered by affiliated companies of State Farm Bank are not FDIC insured, are not guaranteed by State Farm Bank and are subject to investment risk, including possible loss of principal invested.}

^{Securities issued by State Farm VP Management Corp. For more information, call 800-447-4930.}

^{State Farm VP Management Corp. is a separate entity from those State Farm entities which provide banking and insurance products. Neither State Farm nor its agents provide investment, tax, or legal advice.}